U.S. not prepared for contacts with Russia in format of meetings between foreign policy, defense chiefs - ambassador
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The United States is currently not prepared to discuss the resumption of contacts with Russia in the 2+2 format - meetings between the heads of the two countries' foreign-policy and defense agencies - even though the countries are trying to intensify bilateral dialogue on key issues, U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said in reply to a question from Interfax on the sidelines of the Gaidar Forum on Tuesday.
When necessary, the U.S. and Russia will discuss aspects of the bilateral agenda in other formats, he said.
Earlier this month, Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov said he had brought up the resumption of contacts between Moscow and Washington at various levels, including in the 2+2 format, at a meeting with Huntsman in Washington.