A Discussion of US-Russian Relations with Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov

Russia is widely considered today to represent one of the main geopolitical and diplomatic challenges to the United States. While dialogue between the two countries continues, the relationship is increasingly defined by adversity, confrontation, and mistrust. Indeed, appearing recently on Russian television, Ambassador Antonov described the relationship as outright “horrible.” Still, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated, both sides consider it “really critical” to continue talking to each other.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Center for the National Interest hosted a webinar featuring a discussion between Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of the National Interest, and Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States. A career diplomat, Ambassador Antonov has had a long and distinguished career in the Russian government focused primarily on security and arms control issues. Prior to his arrival in Washington in the fall of 2017, he served briefly as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and before that, from 2011-2016, held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense.

The discussion focused on several topics including the state of U.S.-Russia relations, Russia’s position on various international arms control agreements, and the controversy over the alleged Russian bounties in Afghanistan, among others.