FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013 file photo Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov looks on at the start of the two days of closed-door nuclear talks on at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland. The senior Russian diplomat has advised U.S. officials to engage in yoga practices and watch comedy series to ease what he has described as their irrational fixation on punishing Russia over Ukraine. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s comments to the Interfax news agency Thursday, April 3, 2014, reflected simmering tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s annexation of Crimea. (AP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini, pool)
April 03, 2014 - 11:35 AM
MOSCOW - A senior Russian diplomat says U.S. officials should do yoga and watch TV comedy series to ease what he calls their irrational fixation on punishing Russia over Ukraine.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov's comments to the Interfax news agency Thursday reflected simmering tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russia's annexation of Crimea. The U.S. and the EU have slapped members of Russian President Vladimir Putin's entourage with travel bans and asset freezes.
Ryabkov warned that Moscow may take retaliatory steps, but he didn't elaborate.
Ryabkov said the U.S. got "fixated" on halting co-operation with Russia. He said his "advice to the U.S. partners is to spend more time outdoors, do yoga ... and watch TV comedy series" instead of "childish whims, tears and hysterics that won't help."
News from © The Associated Press, 2014