The Russian ambassador to Washington returned to the United States with “an optimistic spirit” this Sunday, three days after a summit between the presidents of the two countries in Geneva, where they agreed to the return of the relevant diplomatic representatives.
“I am [a regressar] With an optimistic spirit,” Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said in an official Russian news agency (Ria Novosti) statement, before the plane took off from Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow.
“Based on the results of the meeting of the two presidents, I look forward to constructive work to build pragmatic and equitable relations with American allies,” said the Russian ambassador, noting that there was “a lot of work ahead”, but noting “advanced” keeping.
The US ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, Jason Rebholz, also plans to return to Russia “soon”, according to a message posted on Twitter by a spokesman for the US embassy in the Russian capital.
“After an important summit, I look forward to returning to Moscow soon to lead a strong team and implement the directions outlined in Geneva, including strategic stability, human rights and a stable and predictable relationship with Russia,” Jason Rebholz wrote.
Following tensions between Russia and the West, Russia, Vladimir Putin and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, agreed to return Antonov and Sullivan to Washington and Moscow in Geneva to work on improving relations between the two countries.
The United States imposed sanctions on Russia and expelled 10 diplomats for alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election and claimed suspected responsibility for the SolarWinds cyber attack, in addition to the country’s actions in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
In turn, Moscow accused the United States of maintaining tensions in eastern Ukraine, not exerting the necessary influence for the Kiev government to fulfill the Minsk Agreement, which included a conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-speaking rebels, and a political script. There was a long struggle. blocked.
In response to US sanctions, the Kremlin responded with similar measures, including the United States on its list of “hostile countries”, meaning Washington would no longer be able to employ local personnel for its diplomatic missions on Russian soil, and The latter will limit movement. of American diplomats.
