Relations between Russia and the United States are at rock bottom, says Kremlin spokesman.
"We are at a very, very low point. In fact, relations are at rock bottom," says Dmitry Peskov.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Despite a recent increase in bilateral dialogue, relations between Moscow and Washington are "on the ground," the Kremlin told the Russian news agency RIA, amid Western objections to large-scale Russian military exercises underway near its borders with Ukraine.
The United States said on Sunday that Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and could create a surprise pretext for an attack, while reaffirming its pledge to defend "every inch" of NATO territory. See more information.
Russia has more than 100.000 troops concentrated near Ukraine, has repeatedly denied any invasion plans, and has accused the West of "hysteria."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that certain channels of dialogue exist, one positive being that President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden have been in contact – the two spoke by phone on Saturday – but that ties in other areas have been strained. See more information.
"The heads of state are in dialogue, there is dialogue on other fronts," Peskov said in an interview with RIA. "This is an advantage because you know that just a few years ago there was no dialogue at all, there was no contact of any kind."
"But in all other respects, unfortunately, in bilateral relations, one can only speak of negative aspects. We are at a very, very low point. In fact, relations are at rock bottom."