He added, "We've done an extensive amount of work, and there have been many substantive discussions among the parties involved."
Senior aides to both men acknowledge that any chance for a substantive discussion of issues is probably now past.
The talks were the first substantive discussions held between the two nations' top defense officials.
They've said until they do that they don't want substantive discussions.
"She enjoyed the substantive discussions you hope for as a senator but almost never find."
"They want a substantive discussion on policy, and that's difficult to do with four people."
But the two sides had not yet had a substantive discussion on these hard issues, the American official said.
So much for the week's substantive discussion of the issues.
"We were never asked to meet or engage in a substantive discussion concerning the memo," he said.
This also meant that we got a more substantive discussion.