Moscow To Invite US To Next Round Of Afghan Peace Talks - Russian Ambassador

Moscow is planning to invite US representatives to the next round of Afghan peace talks, because it believes that Washington is interested in participating, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy told Sputnik in an interview

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2019) Moscow is planning to invite US representatives to the next round of Afghan peace talks, because it believes that Washington is interested in participating, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy told Sputnik in an interview.

"[Russia] is not preparing a new Moscow-format meeting now. But we will organize it as soon as we feel it is needed.

Of course, we will invite the United States. They already attended the last session of the Moscow format as observers. We believe that Washington is interested in full-fledged participation," the diplomat said.

According to the ambassador, Russia expects that Taliban will continue to send its representatives to future Moscow talks.

Mantytskiy added that Russia believed Moscow format was the optimal mechanism to discuss Afghan settlement but would welcome other effective initiatives.