Russian senior diplomat claims US strengthening attempts to 'change power' in Russia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov claimed on Tuesday that the US has been strengthening attempts to "change power" in Russia.

In an interview with Russian state news agency TASS, Ryabkov emphasized that the current US policy stipulates the necessity "to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia."

The US has not only unleashed a hybrid war against Russia, it has also been working for a change of power here, he said.

Ryabkov anticipates no improvement in bilateral relations with the US, expecting developments to be either "purely negative" or "less dramatic."

The diplomat said that Russia and the US have entered a period of a "prolonged confrontation," the way out of which lies through Washington's readiness to "negotiate seriously" and recognize Russia's legitimate national interests "in the broadest sense of the word."

Ryabkov admitted that currently, a possibility of a change in the US position on Russia seems to be a "fantasy."

"The successful completion of a special military operation is a crucial prerequisite for Washington to adjust its thinking ... Then prospects will open up, both regarding bilateral relations and practically destroyed, to call a spade a spade, arms control, not to mention the return to normal ties between our societies and people," he said.