Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov are traveling to Riyadh at President Vladimir Putin’s request for negotiations with US representatives. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the talks will focus on restoring US-Russia relations.
“Today, Foreign Minister Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov are flying to Riyadh on President Putin’s orders. On Tuesday, they are expected to meet with their American counterparts to discuss the full restoration of Russian-American relations,” Peskov stated.
The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasized that during Joe Biden’s presidency, US-Russia relations hit a historic low. Peskov has stressed that any effort to improve ties must come from Washington.
Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated by US restrictions on Russian diplomats, limiting their terms to three years and frequently denying visas to both diplomatic staff and officials attending international events, including those at the UN. Since 2016, over 850 Russian diplomats, including UN representatives, have been expelled under baseless pretexts. Additionally, Russian diplomatic properties have been seized, and consulates in Seattle and San Francisco have been shut down.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS