UNITED NATIONS — Russia’s U.N. ambassador says relations between Moscow and Washington are “practically non-existent,” which he says is bad not only for both countries but for the world – and he sees little prospect for improvement anytime soon.

Vassily Nebenzia said in a recent wide-ranging interview with a small group of journalists that the Trump administration should offer some incentives to North Korea to move forward toward denuclearization, saying the situation “is stalemated at the moment.”

Russia and China have backed an easing of sanctions to spur momentum, but the U.S. insists that North Korea must first make major steps toward eliminating its nuclear program.

“I’m concerned that it doesn’t roll back” to the 2017 era of increasing nuclear and missile tests and escalating rhetoric, Nebenzia said.

“I think that the U.S. hopefully is starting to understand that the situation may go (back).”

As for Iran, Nebenzia said he worries about U.S. strategy if its sanctions don’t bring about the changes in behavior the Trump administration wants. He sees “a danger if they go to the limits.”

“I’m worried if anybody wants to go to war with Iran, and that is the enigma and the question – what is the strategy about Iran?” Nebenzia asked.

He said because Russia has become a major issue in U.S. domestic policies – accused of interfering in the 2016 U.S. elections – “and given the vulnerabilities that drift around this administration, I don’t see too bright prospects for improving (relations) any time soon.”

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