OREANDA-NEWS Severing diplomatic relations with the United States is one of the possible options that will lead to the saddest consequences, he said in an interview with Lenta. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexey Chepa.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the confiscation of frozen Russian assets and further escalation of military escalation could be a trigger for a possible rupture of relations with the United States.

"This is, of course, one of the options. And so the situation is extremely tense, we are at the very bottom of our relationship. The actions mentioned by the deputy minister will certainly lead to a backlash, and all this will cause a serious undermining of possible relations and difficulties in returning to any negotiations," Chepa said.

He added that a possible rupture of diplomatic relations with the United States would entail the saddest consequences. "It is clear that the whole world depends on the tension that has been created today, and if we do not overcome these difficulties, the most unpredictable events may occur," the deputy concluded.

On December 21, the New York Times reported that the US State Department had begun urgent negotiations with allies on the use of frozen Russian assets in the interests of Ukraine. It is assumed that a specific action plan will be ready by February 24, 2024 — the second anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.