MOSCOW, March 15. /TASS/. Moscow is open for cooperation with the new US administration provided that Washington abandons attempts to restrain Russia and interfere in its internal affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement following the ministry’s board meeting dedicated to relations with the West.
"Russia is open for cooperation, particularly with the new US administration, provided that our counterparts understand that equal cooperation and honest interaction are only possible if attempts to restrain Russia and interfere in its internal affairs are abandoned while the parties show respect for each other’s interests," the statement reads.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that common challenges facing both Russia and the West point to the strong need to improve relations. "The meeting’s participants said that relations deteriorated because of our Western counterparts’ policies," the statement adds. "At the same time, the global community has been facing common challenges, including the threat of international terrorism, which highlights the need to improve relations and restore meaningful cooperation."