Russia says talks with US on embassies fail to make progress

Russia and USA They failed to make major progress on Tuesday to resolve a dispute over the size and operation of their embassies and there is a risk that their relations will worsen further, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

With their ties at their lowest time since the Cold War, both countries disagree on how many diplomats they can send to each other’s capitals, although Moscow said it was willing to lift restrictions imposed in recent years.

“I cannot say that we have made a breakthrough,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after talks in Moscow with US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland. “There is a risk of further exacerbation of tension.”

Nuland’s meetings with Russian officials have been “helpful,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a briefing with journalists, adding that Washington’s stance on the staffing of US missions in Russia it remains “firm”.

“We expect parity in the number of personnel and we expect visa reciprocity. There must be justice, there must be flexibility on the part of Russia if we want to achieve an equitable agreement and that is precisely what we are looking for, “he said.

Price said there will be another round of talks at a lower level and that Washington hopes to find a solution to the ongoing dispute. “We need an embassy with the right staff in Moscow,” he said.

Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said a proposal by the US Congress to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the US would lead to the closure of US diplomatic facilities in Russia, should it be implemented.