MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. The United States and Russia are experiencing one of the most difficult periods in bilateral relationship, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said, addressing a meeting dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Institute for US and Canadian Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"It’s no secret that we are experiencing one of the most difficult periods in the US-Russia bilateral relationship but I am truly confident that the minds and the will of many of the people here in this room are up to the challenge of improving relations between our countries and I say it’s for the sake of global stability," he said.

"It’s not an option, it’s an imperative," the US ambassador added.

"As large nations with global responsibilities and as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, we must endeavor to improve relations to effectively deal with a rapidly changing world," Huntsman stressed.