Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a Nov. 26 press conference that relations between Moscow and Washington have improved slightly, but that Moscow continues to receive mixed signals, “despite the current U.S. administration’s declared support for the restoration of dialogue with Russia.” Russia is showing “due patience,” but “there can be no question of making concessions or abandoning our approach to the key issues facing us, including in the context of the special military operation.” Those key issues include prohibiting Ukraine membership in NATO and the stationing of long-range missiles on Ukraine’s territory, accomplishing the demilitarization and de-Nazification of the Kiev government, and other elements required for Russia’s security interests.
Like President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ryabkov singled out the British for orchestrating European hostility to peace. “Over the past few days, we have seen numerous information leaks, attacks, and assaults through the U.K. media and social networks on the very idea of reaching an agreement, an agreement that would address the root causes of this conflict…. Here we see that a number of media outlets are being used not just as ‘drain pipes,’ but as weapons in the information war.” He emphasized that diplomatic efforts on Ukraine “require silence.”
Ryabkov also repeated the Russian offer to extend the New START agreement by one year, if the U.S. does the same, and to even extend it. “In the future, a decision could be made to extend this state of affairs, of course, based on an analysis of the strategic situation.”
