The US “has dealt many heavy blows” to Russia
(Baonghean.vn) - On December 28, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that 2018 was a period of many missed opportunities in Russia-US relations despite Moscow's efforts to improve the situation.
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| Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov. Photo: AP |
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Antonov stated: "2018 became a year of many missed opportunities, although the Russian side made maximum efforts to improve the situation in relations with the US. We have raised serious proposals related to specific projects and bilateral contacts with US partners."
The Russian Ambassador to the US added that this year Moscow has succeeded in improving dialogue between Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolay Patrushev and US National Security Advisor John Bolton, as the two sides have conducted several rounds of dialogue, specifically in Geneva in June, and in Moscow in August and October.
"We hope they will meet again in 2019," Mr. Antanov stressed. Moreover, the ambassador said, "the consultations in December on counterterrorism between the two countries' delegations were useful." The delegation was led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov and his US counterpart John Sullivan.
"The visits of US lawmakers to Moscow this summer have been an important step, but they are not enough to restore full-fledged cooperation between members of the two countries' parliaments. We have not been able to organize regular contacts between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his US counterpart Mike Pompeo. Our proposal to resume consultations between the Russian and US foreign and defense ministers in the 2+2 format has not yet materialized," Antonov said.
According to Mr. Antonov, in 2018 the US "dealt many heavy blows" to the relationship between Washington and Moscow.
"We still remember how 60 Russian diplomats were expelled under the pretext of 'the Skripal poisoning', how the Russian Consulate General in Seattle was closed. They continue to accuse Russia of interfering in the US elections. All these accusations are based on no solid evidence, only ultimatums and unilateral actions. We explained to the US side that such a policy will not lead to any results. If there are disagreements, we need to sit down for negotiations, discuss issues and find a compromise, not try to impose their own positions," Mr. Antonov emphasized.
