US Attempts to Talk With Russia From Position of Strength 'Doomed to Failure': Ambassador Antonov
© Sputnik . Evgeny Biyatov
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Any attempts by the United States to have a dialogue with Russia from a position of strength are doomed to failure and until the US changes its approach toward Moscow, no stabilization of relations between the two countries is possible, Russian Ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov said.
Russia is always ready for dialogue and cooperation. However, they must be built on the principles of sovereign equality and respect for the interests of each party.
"Attempts to conduct a dialogue with our country from a 'position of strength' are initially doomed to failure. Until this approach stops, we cannot talk about even the slightest stabilization of Russian-American relations," Antonov said on Monday. "Washington must understand that any unfriendly actions will be met with a tough and adequate response."
Antonov's comments come in response to an article by Peter Schroeder, Principal Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), who wrote that "Many policymakers have drawn the conclusion that the best way to handle an opportunistic bully such as Putin is to show strength and resolve."
The Russian ambassador pointed out that Americans do not have a normal conversation with Russia at all.
"They curtailed contacts along all lines, believing in their ability to solve numerous international problems without Russia, including resolving regional crises," Antonov said. "We see the tragic consequences of the so-called American leadership in the events in Ukraine and the Middle East. Even local observers began to call Biden's foreign policy bankrupt."
Russia will never give up its national interests and Moscow has repeatedly proposed solving various problems on its western borders through dialogue, Antonov said.
"However, all our ideas were disdainfully rejected. The Americans, therefore, themselves provoked us to launch a special military operation, leaving us no choice," he said. "We have repeatedly conveyed to local officials the thesis that neither confrontation nor economic sanctions, much less attempts to undermine the unity of Russia, will bring the result Washington needs."
Antonov also said that Russia has never closed the door to diplomacy, but at the same time emphasized that progress is possible only through mutually respectful dialogue and finding a balance of interests on a strictly equal basis.
"The principle of indivisible security for all must remain at the forefront," Antonov added.
