Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Says There's An Opportunity To Negotiate With The New Government Of The United States

JAKARTA - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday Moscow saw little chance of making an agreement with the new United States government under Donald Trump, the Interfax news agency reported.

"We can't say anything today about the level of government capacity to come to negotiate, but still, compared to despair in every aspect of the previous White House head (Joe Biden), there is an opportunity today, although small," Wamnelu Ryabkov said, according to Interfax.

"Therefore, it is important to understand with what and with whom we have to deal with, the best way to build relationships with Washington, the best way to maximize opportunities and minimize risks," he said, while speaking at the US and Canadian Institute of Studies, a think tank in Moscow.

Earlier, Donald Trump, who took office on Monday, said he could end the war in Ukraine quickly, without mentioning how.

On Tuesday, he warned of the possibility of imposing further sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin refused to negotiate to end the nearly three-year conflict.

However, President Trump did not provide details on possible additional sanctions against Russia, which is already under significant Western sanctions over its massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.