Ambassador Nebenzya Says Russia Is Waiting For The Right Signal From The US Regarding Contacts

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzya. (UN Photo/Manuel Elvis)

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said in Sunday's statement Moscow was waiting for a "precise signal" from Washington regarding contacts, but he had little hope for a better relationship with the Washington delegation at the United Nations.

Ambassador Nebenzya said this in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA.

According to him, Moscow is ready to hold talks with Washington about Ukraine "on an equal footing".

"We are open to contact but on equal footing and, as a requirement, consider Russia's interests," Ambassador Nebenzya said.

"We are waiting for the right signal from the American side," he said.

The interview before President Donald Trump said he believed the United States was making progress in talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

President Trump did not provide details on recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but added he expected more conversations.

Earlier, President Trump, who had promised to end the war but had not publicly explained how he would do so, said last week that the United States was talking to Russia and Ukraine about resolving the conflict, but he did not provide additional details.

In an interview from Air Force One on Friday, President Trump told the New York Post he "it's better not to say" how many times he has spoken to the Russian president. He also did not reveal when the last conversation took place.

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he could neither confirm nor deny the report.

In his comments, Ambassador Nebenzya said relations with the US delegation at the United Nations were "good enough". However, he called the US team that led the UN Security Council at the closing of President Joe Biden's mandate "one of the worst" for violating UN procedures.

Ambassador Nebenzya said Russia is ready to cooperate with US diplomats at the United Nations, although Washington representatives have used "very political diplomacy."

RIA quoted Ambassador Nebenzya as saying he "did not have high hopes" things would change under Trump. He said statements by the government and its representatives were often "suggested on domestic audiences or party interests."