Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antono said that he currently sees no basis or any clear opportunity to stabilize or improve his country's relations with the US in the near future. (Source: X)

On August 5, TASS news agency quoted Ambassador Antonov as saying that he currently sees no basis or "any clear opportunity" to stabilize or improve Russia-US relations in the near future.

According to him, the current administration in Washington "is encouraging the Ukrainian military to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia with American weapons" and therefore there can be no talk of improving relations.

However, Moscow insists that it is still interested in "pragmatic, equal, civilized relations" with Washington and does not want confrontation, despite all the current sharp conflicts between the two countries, because a bad relationship does not serve the national interests of both Russia and the United States.

Ambassador Antonov stressed: "We are not interested in confrontation with the US, we do not need troubles or troublemakers. We want to live normally and be able to develop the economy in peace... No one wants to spend money and then have it go down the drain."

However, there are "many problems and suspicions" in bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington that prevent the two sides from trusting each other.

In addition, the diplomat also mentioned two approaches to Russia-US relations. First, it is necessary to negotiate arms control, because this is "a kind of golden link" and if resolved, it can bring the entire bilateral relationship out of the abyss.

However, Moscow is moving towards the second approach, which is to prioritize building positive elements and moves in bilateral relations to build trust, creating a foundation for discussing a number of agreements in the field of arms control and nuclear non-proliferation.

"If the United States does not abandon its hostile stance or policy towards the Russian Federation, we cannot participate in what Washington is proposing," Ambassador Antonov concluded.