“The current administration behaves like a person who extends one hand and holds a dagger behind their back with another one,” Antonov said, describing Washington’s recent comments about Kyiv not being allowed to use US weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory as “goading”.

“… They are, essentially, laying ground (for a decision) to simply remove all the existing restrictions at a certain point, without much thought.”

The US has provided Ukraine with more than US$50 billion worth of military aid since 2022, but has limited the use of its weapons to Ukrainian soil and counter-fire, defensive cross-border operations.

Antonov said serious dialogue with the US would only become possible if it ends its “hostile” policy towards Russia, which includes the support of Ukraine and the implementation of sanctions against Moscow.

Antonov said a meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state Antony Blinken appeared unlikely during the United Nations General Assembly session next month.

He also said Moscow had no plans to interfere in the US presidential elections.