Washington has begun to demonstrate pragmatism and a determination to resolve the accumulated problems, the Russian president has said
The renewed contacts between Moscow and the administration of US President Donald Trump have sparked “hope” that relations between the two countries could move in a positive direction, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Communication between Russia and the US effectively broke down under former US President Joe Biden. Trump has sought to revise Washington’s approach towards foreign policy and held an extensive phone call with Putin on February 12. After that, Russian and US delegations held a high-level meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss reestablishing dialogue.
Speaking at a meeting of the board of Russia’s Federal Security Service on Thursday, Putin said that “the first contacts with the new American administration inspire certain hopes.” The American side has demonstrated a “reciprocal determination to work on restoring interstate relations, on gradually resolving the colossal volume of accumulated systemic and strategic problems in the world architecture.” He noted that these issues, which had accumulated in recent years, ultimately provoked the Ukraine conflict and other regional crises.
On Thursday, Russian and US diplomats held a closed-door meeting in Istanbul to discuss normalizing embassy operations following years of strained relations and diplomatic expulsions.
According to Putin, not everyone in the West appears to be happy with the restoration of US-Russia ties. In his words, “part of the Western elites are still determined to maintain instability in the world” and will likely try to disrupt or compromise the dialogue that has begun between Moscow and Washington.
At the same time, the president noted that the current US leadership appears to be showing a certain “pragmatism” and a “realistic view on things” by rejecting many stereotypes and “messianic ideological cliches of their predecessors,” which had contributed to the collapse of relations.
Earlier this week, Putin said that Russia and the US are discussing “major” joint economic projects, noting that Moscow is ready to cooperate with American private companies and government entities to develop Russia’s rare-earth minerals.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Moscow and Washington could restore economic ties after the Ukraine conflict is resolved. Trump has also suggested that sanctions on Moscow could be lifted “at some point” as part of a negotiated settlement on Ukraine.
