Senior US, Russian diplomats hold ‘tough’ talks: State Department

Alexander Shcherbak | TASS | Getty Images

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov speaks at the 6th Russian-American forum, Fort Ross Dialogue 2017, hosted by Russia for the first time, in the village of Izborsk.

The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday talks between two senior U.S. and Russian diplomats on Monday on areas of mutual concern were “tough, forthright, and deliberate, reflecting both parties’ commitment to a resolution.”

It said the talks between U.S. Undersecretary of State Thomas Shannon and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov “reflected a spirit of goodwill, but it is clear that more work needs to be done.”