Putin's absence of APEC out of optimization of schedules

Russian President Vladimir Putin's absence of the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is out of consideration for optimizing schedules, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Friday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Thursday that Putin will not attend the APEC summit to be held in Manila next week, and the top leader would instead be represented by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the summit on Nov. 18-19.

"Taking into consideration Medvedev's planned visit to Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia to attend the annual East Asia leaders' meetings on Nov. 21-22 and his official visit to Cambodia afterwards, the schedules of the Russian leaders have been optimized," Ushakov told reporters.

On Thursday, Peskov dismissed allegations that the decision of Medvedev to represent Russia at the APEC summit came because he reportedly enjoys better relations with U.S. President Barack Obama, who is also expected to attend the summit.

"This is an improper estimation which shows lack of understanding of the essence of Russia's policy in the Asia-Pacific region," Peskov said. "The Russian President traditionally pays much attention to APEC summit and its agenda."

The relationship between Moscow and Washington has hit the lowest point since the end of the Cold War due to the ongoing Ukraine crisis, with the United States and its Western allies slapping rounds of sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea and its alleged military involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.