US-Russia Deal on Diplomatic Property to 'Take Some Time' - State Dept.

The talks between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon on Russia’s diplomatic property will continue, however, it will take some time to resolve the issue, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Nauert's comments follow the meeting between Ryabkov and Shannon in Washington, DC on Monday.

"These deals so to speak are going to take some time," Nauert told reporters. "Nothing is coming together any time soon, I don’t have a timeline for you or anything, but those conversations will be continuing."

On June 21, Moscow canceled the Ryabkov-Shannon talks, scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on June 23, after the United States expanded anti-Russian sanctions the day before.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Moscow would take retaliatory steps if the situation with Russia's diplomatic property in the United States is not resolved.

Ryabkov earlier told Sputnik that Russia had prepared a "tough" response to the United States' move among other options.

Two diplomatic compounds belonging to Russia were closed down at the end of 2016 as part of the sanctions introduced by President Barack Obama's administration over Russia's alleged interference in the US presidential election, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.