Russia’s Response over Diplomatic Property Seizure Could ‘Sober US Hotheads’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is “outraged” over the fact that Washington has not yet resolved the situation with Russian diplomatic property in the US, adding that Moscow is working out its response to US actions.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik that Russia has already prepared a “tough” response to the United States’ seizure of its diplomatic property in New York and Maryland.

 “Different options are being considered, but a tough reaction has been prepared, I can confirm this,” Ryabkov said in an interview Tuesday.

Political analyst Valery Korovin believes that retaliatory measures are the most effective method to deal with the issue.

“In my opinion, tit-for-tat measures — the arrest of property and the expulsion of diplomats — will sober Washington’s hotheads and demonstrate the behavior they are used to. The Americans do not understand the gestures of goodwill, unilateral concessions, because they perceive them as weakness. At the same time, tit-for-tat measures — symmetrical arrests and expulsions — are something that can sober them up, bring them to life,” Korovin said in an interview with Radio Sputnik.

“In this case, they will think: yes, we are dealing with a strong opponent and we need to consider changes in our tactics. So, I think it could be a very effective method,” the expert added.

In December 2016, the administration of former US President Barack Obama imposed a set of punitive measures against Russia, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of the two Russian diplomatic compounds. The actions were taken amid Moscow’s alleged interference in the US presidential election, which Russia has repeatedly denied.

The Donald Trump administration is currently considering the return of the two facilities, reports say. According to a source, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov will meet with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon next week to discuss the issue of Russian diplomatic property in the United States.

SPUTNIK

R.S