US to Give Back Russia’s Diplomatic Compounds Only For 'Something in Return'

The United States is going to give back Russia’s diplomatic properties, seized by Washington in 2016 over Russia’s alleged interference in the US election, only under the condition that it will receive something in return from Moscow, a senior official from the White House told Sputnik on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The comments come made in relation to the upcoming talks between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, which will take place later on Monday. The issue of the Russian diplomatic compounds in the United States as well as the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the country in late 2016 is expected to be addressed during the talks.

The meeting between the officials was initially scheduled for June 23, but was subsequently postponed by Moscow due to the "lack of US readiness for the comprehensive discussion."

Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would take retaliatory measures against Washington if the situation with Russia's diplomatic property in the United States is not resolved.  On Tuesday, Ryabkov told Sputnik that Russia prepared a "tough" response to the United States' move, among other options.