Russia reiterates it is ready to restore normal ties with US

Russia's foreign minister has reiterated that Moscow is ready to restore normal ties with Washington under the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Speaking in Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, on Wednesday, Sergei Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin sought to work "in the interests of global security and stability."

The Russian foreign minister also pointed to "the difficult relations" Moscow had with Washington under the administration of former US President Barack Obama.

"We share the position expressed by President Trump for re-establishing normal relations. This means we need to work in a businesslike way," Lavrov stated.

The top Russian diplomat also called for the normalization of relations between Russia and the European Union. Lavrov urged fight against "Russophobia."

"We cannot build our relations other than on mutual respect."

The United States and the European Union imposed economic sanctions against Moscow in March 2014, after Ukraine's strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted in a referendum to rejoin the Russian Federation. Washington and Brussels accuse Moscow of involvement in the deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin denies the accusation.

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Lavrov also highlighted Russia's right to respond to NATO's build-up near Russian frontiers.

On January 8, a senior US military official said the Pentagon was planning to expand the training of its European allies in NATO in order to "deter Russian aggression." About 4,000 US troops are gearing up for upcoming drills in NATO countries near Russia.

"We understand that we had to carry out measures in response to the actions of NATO, about the military potential of (NATO), including their missile defense system," Lavrov said.

"Russia is a peaceful country but we have to be ready and prepared to provide the security and safety of our citizens," he added.

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