MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Russia has never avoided dialogue with Western countries, but cooperation should be strictly based on reciprocity, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.
"Russia has never shied away from dialogue, although it has not imposed itself. But at this stage, today, it is too early to make far-reaching forecasts," he said at a conference of the Russian International Affairs Council titled Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations.
"Our relations with the United States and with the West as a whole should be built strictly on the basis of mutual reciprocity, while respecting each other's national interests."
According to him, Russian diplomacy, under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, has pursued and will continue to pursue a sovereign, comprehensive, and layered foreign policy course that has a well-defined long-term and strategic nature.
"We consider it necessary to further consolidate constructive forces in the interests of strengthening the multipolar foundations of international life," he said. "We will consistently deal with this on the world stage, trying to remain at the forefront of the relevant conflict."
TASS is the general information partner of the conference.