Why Antonov's Possible Appointment for Russian Ambassador to US 'Perfect Choice'

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Antonov previously served as the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia. Antonov has spent over 30 years in the Foreign Ministry, with his work being focused on issues of security and disarmament. In February 2011, Antonov became Deputy Defense Minister. He was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister on December 28, 2016.

"The fact that he worked for six years as Deputy Defense Minister of the Russian Federation is an invaluable experience for his future work in Washington, and his experience as an excellent negotiator adds to his authority…he knows our system from the inside, and it will help him a lot in his work oriented on the result, on the positive developments," Ryabkov said during '60 Minutes' program broadcast by Rossiya-1 television.

"I believe that this is an optimal cadre choice," he added.

Earlier in the day, US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft discussed the appointment of Anatoly Antonov as new Russia’s ambassador to Washington with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Outgoing Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak has been Moscow's envoy in Washington since July 2008, and will reportedly return to Moscow on July 22 and later work in the upper house of Russia’s parliament, Federation Council, acting on behalf of one of Russia's governors. There were numerous speculations, especially in US mainstream media, over Kislyak’s alleged activity of spreading Russian influence in the United States, including during the 2016 US election. The Russian officials have firmly denied the allegations.

It is obviously beneficial for the United States to create a hype around the alleged Russian interference in US presidential election as Washington refuses to accept Moscow's offer to hold professional talks on the issue, Ryabkov said.

"We haven't gotten an appropriate response…and the only conclusion that any unbiased person can make of this is that the United States benefits from spinning out the topic of Russian interference for various reasons."

According to Ryabkov, Russia and US had several information exchanges on the issue, which have been assessed by experts, followed by Moscow's proposals to set up a special working group involving representatives of all relevant agencies.

Moscow regrets that the US position in relations with Russia, including on the issue of the seized Russian diplomatic property, has remained almost unchanged, Ryabkov said, commenting on the results of his recent talks with US Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon in Washington.

"I believe that it is necessary to strive to reach an agreement until the last moment, to use all the opportunities."

"Unfortunately, there has been little progress so far in the US position, including on the issue of diplomatic property, on other issues," Ryabkov stressed.

"We rule out any conditions, under which this property can be returned. That is not an issue for bargaining," Ryabkov said.

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would take retaliatory measures against Washington if the situation with Russia's diplomatic property in the United States was not resolved.

In December 2016, the administration of former US President Barack Obama imposed a set of punitive measures against Russia, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of the two Russian diplomatic compounds. The actions were taken in response to Moscow's alleged interference in the US presidential election, which Russia has repeatedly denied.

Back in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to respond to sanctions imposed by the outgoing US administration and act in accordance with the ties built with the new US leadership.

A senior White House official told Sputnik on Monday that the properties, seized in December 2016 over Russia’s alleged interference in the US election, would be given back only under the condition that it receives something in return from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the condition "unaccaptable."