MOSCOW, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nonpublic working-level contacts aimed at resolving bilateral issues are helping bring Russian-American relations back to a more normal footing, TASS reported Sunday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
Ryabkov said Russia-U.S. relations are showing signs of normalization, citing expert-level talks held in Moscow and Washington. The most recent round took place in Washington, he said, though dialogue on key areas of friction has yet to produce tangible progress.
He described the continuation of the process as a positive development and said the discussions were conducted without publicity to preserve an appropriate working environment.
At the same time, Ryabkov said significant "stumbling blocks" remain in relations between the two countries despite recent steps toward improved dialogue. ■