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Shkruar nga PamfletiThe Russian president, answering questions during a visit to a nuclear research center, said he was confident that the leadership qualities of US President Donald Trump would help restore relations from recent lows.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about relations with the United States after the summit in Alaska on August 15.
The Kremlin chief says relations with the US are at their lowest point since World War II.
But Putin stressed that with the arrival of Donald Trump at the helm of the White House, things have changed and that he is seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Putin stressed that Washington and the West have the greatest responsibility for reducing tensions.
"As for our relations with the United States, they are at their lowest level since World War II. I have said this many times. But with the arrival of President Trump we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. And recently we had a very good and sincere meeting in Alaska. Contacts continue at the ministerial, official and business levels. I really hope that the first steps that have been taken are just the beginning of a complete restoration of our relations (between Russia and the US). This does not depend on us.
"It depends first of all on our Western partners. In the broadest sense. Because the US is bound by certain obligations in various associations, including the North Atlantic Bloc. Therefore, the next steps now depend on the leadership of the United States. But I am sure that the leadership qualities of the current president, President Trump, are a good guarantee that relations will be restored. And I hope that the pace of our joint work on this basis will continue," Putin said.
Peace in Ukraine, meeting with Zelensky impossible
An imminent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is unrealistic for Russia.
According to Moscow, the conditions for the bilateral summit have not been met. "Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky after an agenda for the summit has been prepared, and this agenda is far from complete," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the American television network NBC.
Lavrov now said that issues that need to be resolved before such a meeting include territorial concessions and Ukraine's renunciation of membership in the Western military alliance, NATO.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump had called for such a meeting to end Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine.
Moscow has so far been vague on the issue. But Trump has also dashed hopes for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, and has recently raised the possibility of sanctions. He will make a major decision about his efforts to bring peace to Ukraine within two weeks, Trump said at the White House. It could include massive sanctions against Moscow or he will "do nothing," Trump said.
Earlier in the meeting with European leaders at the White House, Trump had said that "we'll see if Putin and Zelensky work together."
"You know, it's a bit like oil and vinegar. They don't go very well with each other, for reasons that are well known."
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