WASHINGTON, January 16. /TASS/. The United States hopes this year will be better than the past for US-Russian relations, but still links their development with the situation in Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said in reply to TASS questions during a briefing in Washington on Thursday.

She declined to confirm rumours about a planned visit by her chief John Kerry to Moscow.

The United States and NATO did not want confrontation with Russia, she said, adding that relations between them would change depending on Russia’s steps in connection with developments in Ukraine.

A diplomatic way is always open, she said.

Harf confirmed the US intends to continue cooperation with Russia in areas where it is possible, citing for example talks on the Iranian nuclear program.

Commenting on reports about plans for a visit by Kerry to Moscow, Harf said, aside from the standard phrase that there was no new announcement, that the US secretary of state often meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at various sites all over the world.