The initiator of talks on normalizing relations between Russia and the United States was the administration of US President Donald Trump, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to him, this process is not easy, but useful, Kommersant reports.
“Today, despite all the deep differences between Moscow and Washington, we supported and agreed with the proposal of the Trump administration after he came to power to resume bilateral dialogue without preconditions and begin a professional, concrete, propaganda-free and politicized discussion of ways to normalize bilateral relations,” Sergei Lavrov said in a speech at the Primakov Readings.
Russia and the United States held two meetings in Istanbul — on February 27 and April 10 — with the goal of normalizing the work of diplomatic missions and improving bilateral relations. Following the latest consultation, the parties agreed to simplify the travel regime for diplomats and develop a “roadmap” for confiscated Russian diplomatic property.
Then Russia and the United States decided to move the talks to their capitals, and the next meeting was to be held in Moscow, reported Russian Ambassador to Washington Alexander Darchiev.
Later, the American side proposed postponing the consultations. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the reason, in particular, was disagreement over the choice of location for the meeting.