Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov does not expect a constructive development of relations between Moscow and Washington from the administration of American President Joe Biden. The head of the Russian diplomatic mission said this on Tuesday, February 9, at a wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of the statesman and diplomat of the Russian Empire Alexander Bodisko in Washington.
“We all have little expectations, as we understand it, from what awaits us, what we will have. But, and this is especially important, I would like everyone … to say thank you for your support, “Antonov is quoted as saying to his TASS colleagues.
The ambassador stressed that Russian diplomats in the United States, against the background of the steady deterioration of bilateral relations in recent years, have to work “in the most difficult conditions”, and they have “a huge variety of problems and tasks.” He noted that the last three US administrations have done nothing to ensure that the employees of Russian diplomatic missions “live better, quieter, more comfortable here.”
Earlier, on February 4, at a briefing at the White House, US Assistant to the President for National Security Jake Sullivan said that Washington intends to secure itself a “position of strength” to compete with the great powers and counter transnational threats. According to him, a new line of foreign policy towards Russia will also be built, which supposedly will allow “to resist Moscow more effectively.”
On that day, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that by putting pressure on the Russian Federation, the United States would not be able to achieve any concessions. In addition, the Foreign Ministry previously stressed that the Russian side is ready for dialogue with Washington only on the basis of mutual respect and equality.