The new Russian ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev presented his credentials to US leader Donald Trump.
The diplomat noted that this will make it easier to improve interaction between Moscow and Washington.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Darchiev as ambassador to Washington on March 6. Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev said he assured U.S. President Donald Trump of the Russian embassy's intention to do everything possible to restore relations between Moscow and Washington and return them to normal.
“I just came from the White House,“ the diplomat noted, speaking at a reception at the Russian Embassy in Washington on Wednesday to mark Russia Day. “The U.S. President found a window in his busy schedule to accept the original credentials from me and meet with me in person on the eve of Russia Day. "It was a great honor for me as the Russian ambassador to talk to President Trump, assuring him that I and the embassy under my leadership will do everything to restore Russian-American relations, to return them to normality and common sense," Darchiev emphasized.
He raised the issue of the problems of Russian citizens in obtaining American visas and considers the situation in this area to be abnormal.
There are still no specific arrangements for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and American leader Donald Trump, but preparatory work is underway, Darchiev said.
“Apparently, preparatory work is underway, but there are no specific arrangements,” he said, touching on the question of whether the Russian and American sides are discussing the possibility of holding a meeting of the leaders.
Darchiev also answered negatively when asked whether the topic of a meeting between the two presidents was raised when presenting the letters of credence. “No. "This is a protocol event," he said.