SINGAPORE MFA COMMENTS ON U.S. - RUSSIA RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000672 SIPDIS EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA EUR/RUS - J. ELLISON E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL RS SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE MFA COMMENTS ON U.S. - RUSSIA RELATIONS REF: SECSTATE 71326 Classified By: Acting EP Chief Dan Jassem for reasons 1.4 (b and d). (C) Acting EP Chief gave a readout of the President's visit to Russia (reftel demarche) to MFA Europe Director Lawrence Anderson during a July 14 meeting. Thanking us for the readout, Anderson noted that Singapore's primary desire for U.S. - Russia relations is stability. Commenting on the need for greater Russian cooperation on Iran, Anderson said the United States should be prepared to compromise on missile defense and NATO enlargement if we hope to persuade Russia to adopt more helpful policies on Iran. Anderson also suggested that offering the Ukraine membership in the European Union instead of NATO might tamp down Russian encroachment on Ukrainian independence while soothing Russia's anxiety over Ukraine joining what the Kremlin perceives as an anti-Moscow alliance. Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm SHIELDS