US denies Russian claim that dialogue is frozen

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Wednesday disputed claims that communications with Russia have been frozen.

"Obviously we don't agree and have issues with Russia on a variety of issues, but dialogue has not been broken," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Kirby cited a Tuesday call between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, and a Pentagon vice conference with Russia's defense ministry on the situation in Syria, as evidence that communication has not been in any way disrupted.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced earlier Wednesday "almost every level of dialogue with the United States is frozen", Russia's RIA news agency reported.

"I'm just not sure what to make of his comment," Kirby said. "That's certainly not reflective of the way we see communications between Moscow and Washington."