ADDIS ABABA, February 19. /TASS/. Both the US and Russia are interested in restoring bilateral relations and a long-term strategy is needed to improve them, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"It is evident that both the US is interested in restoring bilateral ties, and we are interested in building long-term, reliable, mutually beneficial relations with the US," she told reporters.
The official stressed that Russia is ready and open for talks and sincere dialogue but will not sacrifice its national interests. "This is very important," she emphasized.
"If common sense and pragmatism are engaged, I think, we can swiftly move toward amending this absolutely negative scenario promoted by the previous administration," she concluded.