Russian Foreign Ministry: timing of Ambassador Antonov’s return depends on US steps to normalise relations

According to a source in the diplomatic office, the ambassador’s consultations in Moscow are not over

A diplomatic source told TASS on Monday that the timing of Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov’s return to Washington depended on whether the US side would take steps to normalize relations.

“It is too early to talk about the specific terms of Ambassador Antonov’s return to Washington. By and large, everything depends on the American side to do something in the direction of normalization of relations”, –  the spokesman said.  -“Decisions will be taken later and it’s still too early to talk about it.”

According to him, the consultations which the ambassador is holding in Moscow in government agencies and various institutions are not over.

“This work is in progress, and we will continue it together with Anatoly Ivanovich”, –  the source added.

To recall, Antonov was invited to consult in the Russian capital after a high-profile interview by US President Joe Biden, in which he said that the Russian leadership would have to “pay the price” in connection with the attempts to interfere in the US elections attributed to Moscow. In addition, the White House chief answered in the affirmative to the question whether he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a “murderer”. The ambassador has been in Moscow since 21 March and has already held a number of meetings, including at the Russian Foreign Ministry and the State Duma.

Russian Foreign Ministry: timing of Ambassador Antonov’s return depends on US steps to normalise relations