Deputy FM Says Anti-Russian Sentiment Within NATO Affects US-Russia Bilateral Dialogue
02:51 GMT 10.01.2022 (Updated: 02:54 GMT 10.01.2022)
© Sputnik / Vladimir Trefilov
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MOSCOW/GENEVA (Sputnik) - The United States is uncomfortable discussing security guarantees with Russia in bilateral formats since Washington feels the "eyes and ears" of Russophobic NATO members, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik.
"They find it uncomfortable to hold bilateral dialogue with us, because they feel behind them the eyes and ears of the most anti-Russian group within NATO," Ryabkov said ahead of the upcoming strategic stability dialogue.
On Sunday evening, Ryabkov met with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Geneva. The deputy foreign minister said that the conversation was difficult, but businesslike.
On Sunday evening, Ryabkov met with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Geneva. The deputy foreign minister said that the conversation was difficult, but businesslike.
"Amazing," Ryabkov said at the end of the preliminary talks in response to the question on how the meeting went.
"The conversation was difficult, but businesslike. We went straight to the matter of the upcoming talks. I think that tomorrow we will not waste time. I never lose my optimism, I am always guided by it," the diplomat said.
The meeting preceding the official Russian-US talks on security guarantees was held in Geneva on Sunday evening and lasted more than two hours.
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement after the talks that "the United States would welcome genuine progress through diplomacy" during the strategic stability talks, but the US "will not discuss European security without our European Allies and partners."
In December, Russia released its draft proposals on security guarantees. Negotiations on security guarantees between Moscow and Washington are scheduled for January 10, followed by a Russia-NATO Council meeting to discuss the issue on January 12, and the summit of Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the following day.
In December, Russia released its draft proposals on security guarantees. Negotiations on security guarantees between Moscow and Washington are scheduled for January 10, followed by a Russia-NATO Council meeting to discuss the issue on January 12, and the summit of Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) the following day.
