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Russia: dialogue with the U.S. continues on various issues

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Sakhalin-1 cited as a prime example of resumed cooperation

(Adds background, quote)

MOSCOW, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign

Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow was ready

to deepen discussions with the U.S. on energy cooperation,

including on the Sakhalin 1 project, RIA reported.

Ryabkov also said that Russia was in contact with the U.S.

on various issues, and that dialogue continued.

"I can mention Sakhalin-1 as the most obvious example of the

work that has begun in this area," he was quoted as saying by

RIA.

Russian president Vladimir Putin signed last month a decree

that could allow foreign investors, including top U.S. oil major

Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) to regain shares in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas

project.

The signing of the decree came on the day Putin met Donald

Trump in Alaska for a summit where opportunities for investment

and business collaboration were on the agenda, alongside talks

to find peace in Ukraine.

Exxon previously held a 30% operator share in the lucrative

project, and is the only non-Russian investor to have quit its

stake. The U.S. major took an impairment charge of $4.6 billion

to exit its Russian business after Moscow sent troops into

Ukraine in February 2022.