With the Russian ambassador's meetings seemingly a daily fixture in the CIA/FBI-leaked NYT or WaPo front page news, Russia warned on Friday that efforts to restore relations with the U.S. are being harmed by a "malicious campaign" waged by unknown Americans over meetings between its ambassador and President Donald Trump's administration.

In an interview in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the political controversy over Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak's contacts with U.S. officials is "harming our relations which are already in a bad condition, having been deliberately destroyed by the Obama administration." He added that "it's clear that the current situation hinders the restoration of these relations on a positive path of development."

Russia seeks "practical cooperation in areas where such cooperation is needed" with the U.S., including on counter-terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, economic investment and a settlement to the Syrian war, Ryabkov said adding that "we'll continue to work hard" to restore relations.