The fourth round of talks on Donbas settlement between U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker and Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov is scheduled for next week, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman told Kommersant FM radio station, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia.
Noting that the parties will meet next week, Huntsman recalled that the previous three rounds of negotiations had been unproductive.
However, according to the U.S. envoy, the very fact that the negotiation process is underway inspires confidence. Huntsman expressed hope that the fourth round of talks would yield some progress and that the U.S. and Russia would be moving away from the lowest point in their relations.
The two countries still need to overcome the existing contradictions to this end, Huntsman believes.
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He has also stressed that once Minsk agreements are fully implemented, Russia sanctions could be lifted.
Huntsman stressed that the Ukrainian settlement is the main obstacle in reestablishing better ties between the Russian Federation and the United States.
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