US Charge d'Affaires: Important for embassy to remain open in Russia
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Russia's Ambassador to the US says there are channels still open to manage relations at a working level despite relations being at a low.
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Chargée d'affaires of the US mission to Russia Elizabeth Rood (US Embassy)
The US Charge d'Affaires in Moscow Elizabeth Rood confirmed that US-Russia communication channels remain open at the working level but it remains crucial that the embassy in Moscow maintains its functions.
"Our bilateral relations are at a rather low level and our embassies are considerably reduced from their normal size. But that said, we do have channels of talking with Russia at the working level, about all the many things that are necessary to keep our embassies functioning," Rood stated in an interview with RIA Novosti.
She stressed the importance to "President Biden that our embassy remain open and functioning," as she expressed hope that both countries would not expel diplomats any further "because it's in the interest of both of our countries to have fully staffed, fully functioning embassies."
Earlier in November, the Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, spoke of the hard work it took to steer the US to understand the extent of damage that their sanctions cause to Russian diplomats around the world.
Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia saw no valid reason to keep its current diplomatic presence in Western countries, and suggested to direct attention to countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa as they are "willing to cooperate with Russia on mutually beneficial and equal terms."
Even earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "there is no stability in relations with the West at all today, as they often reject already signed documents."
Read more: Two Russian diplomats left in some unfriendly countries: Zakharova
