Interfax: Russia shouldn’t sever relations with U.S. even if Washington pushes for it – Slutsky

Russian State Duma Building file photo

MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax) – The way the United States has treated Russia’s diplomatic facilities looks like Russia is being pushed to break up bilateral diplomatic relations, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda published on the newspaper’s website on Tuesday.

“We will not yield to provocations,” Slutsky said.

Komsomolskaya Pravda cited the recent remark by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov that the search of Russian diplomatic facilities and the closure of the consulate general could be retaliated against in many ways, but it was important not to behave like Washington and to stay clear of the political jungle.

“There are always some options,” Slutsky said. “Washington has wandered into the political jungle and is trying to lure us in there too. […] But Russia won’t be confused, tread water, or spread its hands,” he said.

“We should not head in the direction we are being pushed to take. […] And they are actually pushing us to rush into a breakup or a freeze on diplomatic relations,” Slutsky said.

“We prefer negotiations, no matter how difficult our situation may be,” he said.

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