U.S. Gay Couples Banned From Russian Adoption 

The latest round of discussions on the U.S.-Russia adoption policy began Wednesday, and already it has been decided U.S. gay couples will not be allowed to adopt Russian children.

Only heterosexual couples will be allowed to adopt because Russia does not recognize same-sex relationships, Alina Levitskaya, a senior official at the Education and Science Ministry, said in a statement Wednesday.

Negotiations will continue throughout the week. U.S. and Russian officials are still trying to determine how to monitor adopted children and the possible transfer to new families if something goes wrong.