Then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (left) and then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (right) meet in Moscow in March 2011. Associated Press
In light of a possible summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden in June, authorities in Moscow are suspending their policy of banning foreigners from being employed by the U.S. Embassy in Russia. The U.S. Embassy announced today that it will therefore temporarily resume consular services to U.S. citizens.
AFP reports that U.S.-Russian relations have recently been at an all-time low due to Washington’s accusations that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election and orchestrated large-scale cyberattacks and other malicious activities.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone earlier this week and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the Arctic Council meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, on the 19th and 20th.
The decision comes amid rumors from both President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin that the two sides may hold a summit in June.
The U.S. Embassy in Russia said today that it has been informed by the Russian government that it “intends to suspend the ban on the employment of foreign nationals in the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
The U.S. Embassy also announced, “Therefore, as of July 16, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow will temporarily resume providing routine services to U.S. citizens.”
Recent Comments