Ryabkov ready to discuss Whelan case with U.S. Under Secretary of State in Helsinki

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said he may discuss the case of U.S. spy suspect Paul Whelan at talks in Helsinki with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale.

"If they ask this [question], we will be certainly able to give a well-known answer. There is a certain procedural aspect, which cannot be discarded," TASS cited Ryabkov as saying.

Ryabkov and Hale are scheduled to hold consultations in Finland’s capital on July 10. The talks are expected to focus on launching strategic Russian-U.S. dialogue on a broad range of issues. The meeting is due to be held in the run-up to a round of full-format consultations on strategic stability between Russia and the U.S. on July 17-18 in Geneva.