Report: Russia Wanted To Reset Diplomatic Relations With U.S. In March
- 7 years ago
The Russian government reportedly suggested resetting diplomatic relations with the U.S. earlier this year.
The Russian government reportedly suggested resetting diplomatic relations with the U.S. earlier this year.
BuzzFeed News notes that it has obtained a copy of the March proposal which “called for the wholesale restoration of diplomatic, military and intelligence channels severed between the two countries after Russia’s military interventions in Ukraine and Syria.”
According to the media outlet, the plan would have begun immediately and included a timeline to deal with issues such as information security and conflicts in Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and North Korea.
After reviewing the proposal, Andrew Weiss with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told BuzzFeed News, “This document represents nothing less than a road map for full-scale normalization of US-Russian relations.”
Meanwhile, Angela Stent, former George W. Bush administration official, pointed out a major flaw after reading the plan, saying, “It just ignores everything that caused the relationship to deteriorate and pretends that the election interference and the Ukraine crisis never happened.”
Soon after taking office, President Trump had been criticized for appearing to seem too friendly towards Russian President Vladimir Putin despite evidence that Moscow tried to sway the 2016 presidential election.
However, relations between the two countries have since declined, with both sides ordering the removal of the other’s diplomats after U.S. lawmakers imposed new sanctions on Russia for meddling in the election, notes the Los Angeles Times.
And things may continue to deteriorate further, as Russian officials are said to be in the process of considering additional cuts and restrictions to U.S. diplomatic staff working in the country.
Newsweek reported last week, based on a Russian report, that when Putin was asked by a reporter about his assessment of the Trump presidency thus far, he responded, “As far as being disappointed or not disappointed is concerned, your question seems very naive. He is not my bride, and I am not his bride nor groom. We deal with the business of governing.”
The Russian government reportedly suggested resetting diplomatic relations with the U.S. earlier this year.
BuzzFeed News notes that it has obtained a copy of the March proposal which “called for the wholesale restoration of diplomatic, military and intelligence channels severed between the two countries after Russia’s military interventions in Ukraine and Syria.”
According to the media outlet, the plan would have begun immediately and included a timeline to deal with issues such as information security and conflicts in Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and North Korea.
After reviewing the proposal, Andrew Weiss with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told BuzzFeed News, “This document represents nothing less than a road map for full-scale normalization of US-Russian relations.”
Meanwhile, Angela Stent, former George W. Bush administration official, pointed out a major flaw after reading the plan, saying, “It just ignores everything that caused the relationship to deteriorate and pretends that the election interference and the Ukraine crisis never happened.”
Soon after taking office, President Trump had been criticized for appearing to seem too friendly towards Russian President Vladimir Putin despite evidence that Moscow tried to sway the 2016 presidential election.
However, relations between the two countries have since declined, with both sides ordering the removal of the other’s diplomats after U.S. lawmakers imposed new sanctions on Russia for meddling in the election, notes the Los Angeles Times.
And things may continue to deteriorate further, as Russian officials are said to be in the process of considering additional cuts and restrictions to U.S. diplomatic staff working in the country.
Newsweek reported last week, based on a Russian report, that when Putin was asked by a reporter about his assessment of the Trump presidency thus far, he responded, “As far as being disappointed or not disappointed is concerned, your question seems very naive. He is not my bride, and I am not his bride nor groom. We deal with the business of governing.”