Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations Alexander Alimov noted that the Russian Federation is aware of many restrictions imposed by the U.S. on Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices.

“Russia has never restricted anything in cultural and humanitarian cooperation, including with the United States” Alexander Alimov, Director of the Department for Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations of the Russian Foreign Ministry, told TASS.

Image above: Alexander Alimov

“We never limit anything in cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Our position is that even with countries whose governments have an unfriendly policy towards our country, with creative people, with creators, with scientists, with athletes who are ready to interact with our country, to work on our platforms, we have no restrictions on interaction. The same applies to the United States of America,” he said when asked about the possibility of restoring cultural relations with the U.S. in full.

“I do not undertake to predict the dynamics of bilateral negotiations conducted at the political level. And yes they are being conducted, both top-level direct diplomacy and diplomacy by the Foreign Ministry, which discusses both Ukraine and bilateral relations,” Alimov pointed out. He continued that this work includes “…For example, starting with such simple things as the order of work of diplomatic missions”.

He noted that Russia is aware of the many restrictions the United States has imposed on Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices, up to and including closing them, as well as the retaliatory measures the Russian Federation has been forced to take. “Here now, little by little, pragmatically and constructively, this dialog has begun. I would not be so bold as to predict its outcome in all aspects,” Mr. Alimov summarized.