MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. The fact that the administration of US President-elect Joe Biden has people Moscow already engaged in talks with may help Russia’s diplomacy avoid a "sluggish start" in launching dialogue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
"We know some of these people. On the one hand, it makes it possible to begin talks without a long break, without a sluggish start, if the US side is willing to respond to our numerous proposals on the Russian-US agenda that are still on the table," he told a news conference, commenting on reports about Biden’s plans to appoint Antony Blinken as secretary of state and Victoria Nuland as assistant secretary.
The Russian top diplomat noted that appointments in Biden’s team may mean that Washington’s drive towards dominance will be continued. "Obviously, containing China and Russia will remain on the foreign policy agenda. It [Washington] is already thinking about what can be done not to let Russia and China consolidate in a way they could feel stronger than America," he explained.
He did not rule out that the new US administration may act more politely in its relations with Russia but its very policy is unlikely to be changed. "Americans will have to accept agreements in the areas where it is in their interests, where they understand they cannot do without us and without China," Lavrov said, adding that among such areas are combating infections, climate change and counteracting terrorism and organized crime. As for Russia, in his words, the top priority area of cooperation with the United States is arms control.