MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recalled on Monday that US President Donald Trump earlier called for improving ties with Russia and confirmed that Moscow is ready for this.
Russia’s top diplomat commented on the words of US National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster that it was time to have "tough discussions with Russia" on its steps in Syria.
"We will rely on what President Donald Trump has once again confirmed, rather than on the words of his adviser. The president confirmed that he seeks to improve relations with Russia and we are also ready for this," he added.
Lavrov said he would not like to comment on all allegations against Russia.
"They have started speaking that cooperation with Russia is possible if it behaves well in Ukraine and Syria, and now also on the Korean Peninsula. This is not an approach of a partner and we won’t accept it," Lavrov stressed.
"Although chaos in the world exists, it was not created by us," Lavrov said. "ISIL [former name of the Islamic State terrorist group], and earlier Al-Qaeda and then Jabhat al-Nusra emerged due to risky undertakings of our Western partners, namely the previous US administrations. And it turns out that we should pay for the consequences," he stressed.
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Herbert McMaster criticized Russia for its support of the "horrible" regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. He also said that the relations between Russia and the US are "at the lowest point and there's nowhere to go but up."