MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin traditionally congratulates foreign leaders on the New Year and Christmas, but not the leaders of hostile countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question from the agency TASS.

“It will be traditional, yes, he will congratulate everyone,” the spokesperson said, referring to the tradition of the Russian president sending New Year’s messages to foreign leaders and countries.

“He will not congratulate hostile countries (the leaders of these countries – TASS), but he will congratulate some individuals and residents of several hostile countries,” Peskov added.

“Everything will be traditional,” the Russian presidential spokesperson said when asked if Putin would congratulate the people of Georgia and Ukraine.

Putin traditionally congratulates his foreign colleagues on the New Year and Christmas in the last days of December. At the same time, in 2022 and 2023, Putin did not extend such congratulations to US leader Joe Biden and the leaders of other Western countries. Over the past two years, only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have received New Year’s greetings from the Kremlin. The Russian president also continues to congratulate a number of former foreign heads of state and government, including former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.