Alexander Darchiev, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s North American Department, was asked in an interview with Russian news agency TASS whether the possibility of lowering diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington was being considered.

The diplomat said:

I would not like to go into hypothetical speculation about what is possible and what is not possible in the current turbulent situation, when westerners led by the United States have trampled on international law and absolute taboos in diplomatic practice

In this context, I would like to mention the legislative initiative currently being discussed in Congress to declare Russia a ‘country sponsor of terrorism’. If passed, it would mean that Washington would have to cross the point of no return, with the most serious collateral damage to bilateral diplomatic relations, up to their lowering or even breaking them off. The US side has been warned.

Any possible seizure of Russian assets by the US would completely destroy Moscow’s bilateral relations with Washington, Darchiev added.

We warn the Americans of the detrimental consequences of such actions that will permanently damage bilateral relations, which is neither in their nor in our interests.

Darchiev also said: “Americans are increasingly becoming more and more a direct party in the conflict.”