Russia says spy scandal won’t hit relations with US

RUSSIA said yesterday the US arrests of suspects in an alleged Russian spy ring would not hurt improving relations with Washington, softening its tone after an initial angry response.

The Russian Foreign Ministry at first slammed the US actions as “baseless and improper” and hinted the arrests could dampen Moscow’s enthusiasm for warmer ties, raising the spectre of a Cold War-style diplomatic stand-off.

But yesterday the Foreign Ministry expressed optimism that the fall-out would not ruin the relationship “reset” initiated by US President Barack Obama and embraced by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.