AKTAU, August 12./TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday Russia was ready to meet even with representatives from those countries whose policy towards Russia is unfriendly, including the US.

"We have never dodged contacts, including with representatives from those countries that pursue a clearly unfriendly policy towards us. That is why, if the leaders feel the necessity to meet and get back to the issues which we thought should unite Russia and the US, but which trigger rejection of some circles inside the US, I think such a meeting will take place," Lavrov told reporters on Sunday when asked if a summit was still on the agenda in the light of Washington’s latest statements on sanctions.

"At least at the level of the heads of the foreign policy agencies, we are ready to develop such contacts, of course if the American side will be ready to act on the basis of the balance of interests, on the basis of equality and taking into account each other’s positions," the foreign minister stressed.

On Wednesday, the US Department of State said in a statement that Washington was imposing new sanctions on Moscow over its alleged involvement in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the British city of Salisbury. The first round of sanctions will take effect on August 22, while a second round may be introduced in 90 days in case Russia fails to meet certain conditions, the State Department said.