Moscow | US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan is returning to the United States “this week” for “consultations” amid heightened tensions between the two rivals, his embassy told AFP on Tuesday.
“I think it is important to speak directly with my new colleagues in the Biden administration in Washington about the current state of bilateral relations between the United States and Russia,” Sullivan said, quoted by his door. – spoken by Rebecca Ross.
Moscow had “recommended” last week to the American ambassador to return to Washington to “have in-depth and serious consultations”.
Russian Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, was recalled to Moscow on March 17 for “consultations” after President Joe Biden described Vladimir Putin as a “killer”.
Mr. Sullivan, however, assured that he “will return to Moscow in the coming weeks, before any meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin”.
This meeting has been planned since last week after a proposal to this effect from Mr. Biden, to which Russia said it was open. According to Moscow, such a summit on neutral ground is “under consideration”.
Tensions between Moscow and Washington are at their height against a backdrop of disagreements over Ukraine, the fate of imprisoned Russian opponent Alexei Navalny and accusations of espionage, electoral interference and cyberattacks blamed on Moscow.
The United States on Thursday adopted additional sanctions targeting Russia, which include the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats and restrictions on the purchase of Russian debt for American banks.
Russia responded by expelling ten US diplomats, threatening Washington-funded funds and NGOs, and inadmissibility of several members of Joe Biden’s government.