US-Russia ties’ stabilization unlikely if Washington keeps stance of strength — ambassador
"There will be no negotiations on a retreat from Russian national interests," Anatoly Antonov noted
WASHINGTON, November 7. /TASS/. Stabilization in the US-Russian relations is unlikely as long as Washington resorts to attempts of speaking with Moscow from a position of strength, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said.
"Any attempts to conduct a dialogue with our country ‘from a position of strength’ are doomed to failure," the Russian diplomat stated on the Telegram channel.
"Until this approach is abandoned, we cannot talk about even the slightest stabilization of Russia-U.S. relations. Washington should realize that any unfriendly steps will be met with a tough and adequate response," he continued.
"There will be no negotiations on a retreat from Russian national interests," Antonov noted. "We have repeatedly proposed to resolve issues on Russia's western borders through dialogue."
"However, all our ideas were scornfully rejected. The United States therefore left us no choice and provoked us to launch a special military operation," the Russian ambassador stressed.
Antonov also said in his statement that Russia "repeatedly conveyed to local officials the message that neither confrontation nor economic sanctions, much less attempts to undermine the unity of Russia, will help Washington to achieve the necessary objectives."
"The Russian side has never closed the door to diplomacy, but at the same time emphasized that any progress is possible only through mutually respectful dialogue and finding a balance of interests on a strictly equal basis. And the principle of indivisible security for all should be put at the center," the Russian ambassador to the United States added.