US elites' attitude will not change against Russia: Zakharova
Russia underlines that the United States will not be changing its mindset regarding Moscow regardless of who is in power in Washington.
Moscow has no illusions or any false expectations about the Washington elites having a glimmer of common sense when it comes to their stance on Russia and its treatment of it, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday as the midterm elections unfold in the United States.
"We did not and do not have expectations and illusions about castling on the Capitol between Republicans and Democrats," she said.
"In the context of a strong Russophobic consensus, unfortunately, we should not count on some glimpses of common sense among the American elites, regardless of party affiliation, when it comes to relations with Russia," Zakharova added during her weekly briefing.
Russia is open to dialogue with the United States, but Washington must realize the futility of putting pressure on Moscow and the danger of further drawing the US into the conflict in Ukraine, the spokesperson underlined.
"We will give a worthy rebuff to the confrontation that is being stubbornly imposed on us. However, we have never announced that we are slamming the door — no. We are open for dialogue, diplomacy does not end," according to the Russian official.
"We are ready for normal work when and if Washington realizes the futility of pressure on Moscow and further involvement in the conflict in Ukraine as its side, which is fraught for the United States with the same humiliating defeat as happened in Vietnam and Afghanistan," she underlined.
US a divided country
Zakharova also underlined that the midterm elections in the United States show that the country is "seriously split" and that Americans believe that the elections are rigged.
"The vote in the midterm congressional elections has confirmed what has been obvious for a long time: the United States is split, seriously split," Zakharova told a press briefing.
Roughly 300 Republicans on the midterm ballot questioned the legitimacy of the last presidential election, as per a Washington Post analysis.
More than 140 of those had won their campaigns by late Tuesday, most notably House and Senate seats, in addition to state-level battles.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Katie Britt, who ran for Alabama's open US Senate seat, were among the 2020 election doubters who won on Tuesday.
Trump, who voted in Florida, has repeatedly hinted at a third presidential run. On Monday, he stated that he would make a "major announcement" on November 15.
"The archaic US electoral system does not guarantee the legitimacy of the electoral process," the Russian spokesperson said. US voters did not trust the election results and considered them rigged, especially given the experience of the 2020 US presidential election associated with numerous "scandalous stories."
"The current fight for control of the legislature is another manifestation of a deep civil conflict and violation of all democratic procedures in the run-up to the struggle for the White House in 2024," the foreign ministry spokesperson said.