Russia calls for 'constructive dialogue' with US
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow is ready for a "constructive dialogue" with Washington and is not interested in any "escalation of confrontation."
"We are open to constructive dialogue with Washington, but unfortunately we cannot see any meaningful reciprocal steps," Lavrov said Wednesday.
He rejected claims by the United States that Russia violated the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, stressing that his country wanted to preserve the landmark Cold War-era nuclear arms pact.
Lavrov said grievances should be discussed in talks.
He further said “both Russia and the US as nuclear powers bear a special responsibility to maintain strategic stability.”
Ties between Moscow and Washington soured after US officials accused Russia of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied the allegation.
Russia and the United States also have differences over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
The armed conflict in Ukraine broke out following the ouster of pro-Russia President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 and intensified after people in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted for reunification with the Russian Federation in a referendum held in March 2014.
The United States and its allies in Europe brand the reunification as annexation of the territory by Russia, accusing Moscow of having a major hand in the crisis in eastern Ukraine, an allegation strongly rejected by the Kremlin.
In Syria, Moscow and Washington are backing opposite visions.
Russia has been offering military advisory support to the Syrian government in its battle against extremist militants, while the US and its allies back the Takfiri militants fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"We don't want an escalation of confrontation," the Russian foreign minister said.
Lavrov said the US expected Moscow to simply accept its arguments while discussing international crises and nuclear-related issues.
"Unfortunately, the US has been trying to demonstrate so far that their stance on any issue is the only correct one," Lavrov said, emphasizing that the balance of interests and mutual respect are necessary to establish a common ground.
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