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Further deterioration in relations with US possible — diplomat

Any complications are possible in Russian-US relations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov
© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Karpov

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Further deterioration in relations with the United States is possible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

The influence of businesses on the US policy towards sanctions (of the West against Russia]) has appeared to be not so high than could be expected, Ryabkov said on Monday at hearings at the State Duma lower house of parliament.

“One could draw a conclusion from the observations of recent months that the degree of manageability of even the largest companies, the degree of their dependence, readiness to follow recommendations of the government agencies is much higher than cold be expected,” he said at hearings on the issue “Russia-the United States: Temporary Aggravation Or a New Cold War?”

Any complications are possible in Russian-US relations, the deputy foreign minister noted. “I do not rule out anything, any complications are possible,” he said.

The US' recognition that Crimea is part of Russia has to be waited for several decades, Ryabkov said. “The USA has not recognized the Baltic States’ joining of the Soviet Union over decades. I expect the USA to take the same position on Crimea and Sevastopol,” he said.