NEW DELHI, December 6. /TASS/. The possible recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by the United States will not contribute to efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Russian reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

"We proceed from the premise that the status of East Jerusalem is one of the key issues in a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli problem, which Russia as a member of the Quartet has sought for a long time. Therefore, we believe that, if what has been announced in Washington happens, that could have far-reaching consequences for the settlement prospects, which will hardly help the settlement cause," said Ryabkov who is taking part in the Russian-Indian diplomatic consultations in the Indian capital.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the key issues of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Israel established control over the eastern part of the city during the 1967 conflict. It insists that Jerusalem is its single and indivisible capital. The Palestinians want to make the eastern part of the city the capital of their state.

On Tuesday, White House officials said US President Donald Trump would announce that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Wednesday and direct the US State Department to begin the process of moving the US embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv to a site in Jerusalem.

According to White House officials, the US leader is ready to support the two-state solution under a formula agreed by both sides, which will make it possible for Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully.