Russian Foreign Ministry notes return to normality in relations with US

Russia and the USA are "returning to normality" and maintaining contacts on so-called external irritants, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov reported.

"Along with the focusing at the expert level of our exchanges, the return to the normal state of affairs occurred, if you like. In the sense that working communications of such kind take place in capitals, that is, in Washington and Moscow",

the Deputy Minister reported.

He emphasized that such talks are taking place in both capitals but are not widely publicized. According to Ryabkov, the previous round was held in Washington, and he views this ongoing dialogue as a positive development.

"But they are not particularly publicized in the interests of providing for an appropriate background and situation around such communications. Certainly, we find a way to inform the public about their results – or absence of such",

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister reported.

He also noted that the dialogue with the USA on irritants is stalled.

"As for the general assessment of relations with the USA, in my opinion, stalling is the word that is the most applicable to them at present. In this case, I'm speaking strictly and exclusively about the topics that have been identified as irritants in our dialogue with Washington for a certain period of time thus far",

Sergey Ryabkov said.

He added that several conclusions can be drawn from this. The first is that Russia cannot avoid modifying the format of its contacts with the US side.

"While the first two rounds took place in third countries, with Ambassador Darchiev headed our side, now, due to the need for significant additional preparatory work— or, if you like, even a research – to determine whether there are any flexibility limits from the American side, and whether there is a basis for further agreements, the level of contacts has naturally become the working one. But they continue."

the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said.