The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
(Photo: Andrey Lyubimov / RBC)
In talks with the United States on security guarantees, Moscow would like to test Washington’s ability to make responsible decisions at a difficult time for European security. This was stated by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“We would like, first of all, to come to an agreement with the United States and check to what extent they are able to make responsible decisions at the current difficult, if not alarming, moment from the point of view of European security,” Ryabkov said.
Earlier, he noted that Russia is uncomfortable with conducting a dialogue with the United States, including on security guarantees, since Washington feels behind itself the “eyes and ears” of its Russophobic NATO partners.
Ryabkov described the negotiations with the United States with the phrase “amazing, the conversation was difficult.”
On January 9, the first meeting of representatives of Russia and the United States on security issues took place; these were preliminary negotiations in the format of a dinner. The Russian side was represented by Ryabkov, the American – by First Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. The deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said the conversation was difficult and “amazing.” “I think that tomorrow we will not waste our time,” Ryabkov said following the conversation.
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