US, Russian officials not shake hands before security talks

The US and Russian delegations did not shake hands at the beginning of the security talks.

As the meeting took place behind closed doors, some details became known late, Report informs, citing TASS.

According to the published protocol, the representatives of Moscow and Washington sat at the two different tables. Afterwards, the head of the Russian delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, and the head of the US delegation, First Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, approached the state flags and posed for photos.

Ryabkov and Sherman kept the social distance. They did not shake hands. At previous meetings in Geneva, they jokingly touched their elbows as a greeting for protocol photos.

According to reports, the second hour of the meeting is underway.