MOSCOW, April 19. /TASS/. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev discussed preparations for the meeting of presidents of Russia and the US during his call with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the Council press service disclosed in the wake of the call that took place on the US initiative.
"Nikolai Patrushev and Jacob Sullivan discussed the preparations for the highest-level meeting, as well as possible directions for development of the Russian-US cooperation," the Council said in its statement.
On April 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden had the second phone call since Biden’s assumption of office. According to the Kremlin, the two leaders discussed the state of bilateral relations and a number of international issues. The White House informed that Biden proposed to hold an in-person meeting in a third country. Later, Biden disclosed that he proposed to hold an in-person summit in Europe this summer.
Other items on the agenda
The agenda also included issues related to the Open Skies Treaty, Iran’s nuclear program, the Korean peninsula situation and strategic stability in general. Patrushev and Sullivan "exchanged opinions on a number of issues on the international agenda," the press service of the Security Council reported.
"The importance of an early launch of a bilateral mechanism for strategic stability was emphasized, as well as the need for interaction between Russia and the US on the nuclear problem of the Korean peninsula and on the situation around Iran’s nuclear program," it said.
US meddling
Patrushev told Sullivan that US intervention in the internal affairs of Russia and its allies was impermissible, the press service informed.
"The Russian side pointed to the impermissibility of US meddling in the internal affairs of Russia and its allies, as well as groundless and unproven accusations against Russia, which the White House used as a pretext for imposing a package of anti-Russian sanctions," the statement runs.
"Despite unconstructive steps by the US side, leading to further degradation of bilateral relations, readiness was confirmed to continue the dialogue for normalizing relations between Moscow and Washington and for maintaining international security," the press service said.
This was the third phone call between Patrushev and Sullivan since the latter’s assumption of office as the National Security Advisor. The first call took place in late January, while the second happened in early March. During these calls, the two officials discussed, in particular, the extension of the New START Treaty and the perspectives of interaction between Russia and the US in security and strategic stability.
Anti-Russian sanctions
US President Joe Biden on April 15 signed an executive order to impose sanctions on Russia. In part, the United States prohibits its companies from acquiring Russian debt liabilities issued by the Central Bank, the National Wealth Fund and the Ministry of Finance. Also, the Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on 16 organizations and 16 individuals, allegedly responsible for Russia’s rumored interference in US elections. Besides, sanctions were introduced against eight individuals and legal entities related to Crimea. Also, the United States is expelling ten diplomats. The American side argues that the personnel include "representatives of Russian intelligence services."
On Friday, Russian presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said Russian presidential aide, Yuri Ushakov briefed US ambassador in Moscow John Sullivan on Russia’s retaliatory measures. Among other things, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US ambassador was recommended to leave for Washington for consultations.
Russia will ask ten US diplomats to leave Moscow and launch a procedure that would prevent US diplomatic missions from hiring citizens of Russia and third countries. Also, Russia imposes an entry ban on eight current and former US high-ranking officials and persons responsible for drafting and conducting anti-Russian policies, including the US attorney-general, FBI director, national intelligence director, secretary of homeland security and director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.