The US-Russian relations have reached their lowest point since the Cold War, but communication between the two countries is important for the US national interests, according to the text of the speech of the first US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, who was distributed ahead of the hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.
“Our relations with Russia have reached the level of the Cold War. Nevertheless, the principles-based interaction with Russia is just as important for our national interests as always”, – the document says.
The committee is holding hearings on Wednesday to consider Sullivan’s candidacy for the post of the US ambassador to Russia.
Sullivan also promised to contact the Russian government on important international issues.
“If they approve me, I will continue to maintain dialogue with the Russian government on countering terrorism and on arms control, as well as on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, on finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan, in Syria, and on many other issues”, – Sullivan said.
He also promised to confront “Russian efforts to intervene in US elections and violate the sovereignty of Ukraine and Syria”. Moscow rejects these allegations.
Sullivan also promised to “put pressure” on Russian authorities to release the American Paul Whelan, detained on charges of espionage.