MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. European leaders are trying to block a thaw in US-Russia relations; Russia may play a role in stalled US-Iran nuclear negotiations; and Elon Musk has publicly clashed with Donald Trump over tax policy and other issues. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: Europe seeks to block normalization of US-Russia relations
Europeans are seeking to impede the normalization of Russia-US relations, but these efforts are largely ineffective as long as Russia and the United States remain committed to moving the process forward, Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who met with Donald Trump on June 5 for the first time since his election, aimed to persuade Washington to adopt a tougher stance toward Moscow. Following the meeting, the US President stated that he could impose sanctions on both Russia and Ukraine should they fail to reach a mutual agreement. However, Trump’s phone conversation with Vladimir Putin on June 4 showed that Washington still prefers to pursue a path of dialogue.
"There is no doubt whatsoever that Europeans are attempting to disrupt the normalization of Russian-American relations. The effectiveness of these efforts will not depend on European leaders, but rather on the leaders of Russia and the United States," Konstantin Kosachev told Izvestia.
