Interfax: Russia ready to resume cooperation with USA but has little trust – top diplomat

(Interfax – February 29, 2016)

Moscow is ready to resume all types of cooperation with Washington but is losing trust in it as a reliable partner, a top Russian diplomat said on 29 February, according to privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax.

“Moscow will be ready to resume cooperation at any time and through all channels, including within the presidential commission, or in other formats that suit the USA,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told a news conference in Moscow.

However, Ryabkov went on, “this lengthy and very negative swell of anti-Russian speeches and attacks is currently undermining trust in the USA as a reliable partner”. Moscow therefore urges Washington to “consider the long-term consequences of this policy”, he added.

Ryabkov also said Russia did not expect “radical changes for the better in our relations” after the upcoming US presidential election. This is because a “bipartisan anti-Russian consensus” has emerged in the USA, he explained.

Relations between the two countries took a dive after Russia annexed Crimea early in 2014. In recent days, Russian state TV started saying more positive things about the USA after the two countries agreed on a partial ceasefire in Syria.

[featured image is file photo]