MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) - Moscow is calling on Washington to exchange Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko for one or more Americans serving prison terms in Russia, as well as to return to Russia illegally seized diplomatic property.
"If the U.S. is not ready to move on the entire horizon, let's act using 'small steps' tactics. Let's start with something that doesn't require dramatic far-reaching decisions from the point of view of politics. Let's try to make headway in at least something and then the positive effect from possible results might turn out to be considerable," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at the Valdai Discussion Club.
"Release Yaroshenko, exchange him for an American or Americans who are serving their terms here. Return the diplomatic property that you seized in breach of the Vienna Convention, which envisages diplomatic immunity for these objects," Ryabkov said.