Russia is willing to work with Donald Trump’s government to improve relations with the United States, but it is up to the Americans to take the first step in this direction, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“If the signals coming from the new team in Washington to restore the dialogue that the country interrupted after the start of the special military operation [guerra na Ucrânia] are serious, of course, we will respond to them,” Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.
“But the Americans broke off the dialogue, so they should take the first step”, pondered the minister.
Trump, who will assume the presidency on January 20, calls himself a master negotiator and has promised to quickly end the war in Ukraine, but has not explained how he could do this.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s nominee to be his administration’s envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News on Dec. 18 that both sides are ready for peace talks.
He also claimed that Trump is in a perfect position to execute a deal to end the war.
Crisis between USA and Russia
U.S. officials have portrayed Russia as a corrupt autocracy that is the greatest nation-state threat to the United States.
They also alleged that the country tried to interfere in US elections, arrested American citizens on false charges and carried out sabotage campaigns against Washington’s allies.
Russian officials say the United States is a declining power that has repeatedly ignored Russian interests since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, while sowing discord within the country in an attempt to divide Russian society and advance American interests.
Understand the war between Russia and Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and entered the territory from three fronts: through the Russian border, through Crimea and through Belarus, a country that is a strong ally of the Kremlin.
Forces loyal to President Vladimir Putin made significant advances in the first few days, but the Ukrainians managed to maintain control of Kiev, even though the city was also attacked. The invasion was criticized internationally and the Kremlin was the target of economic sanctions from the West.
In October 2024, after thousands of deaths, the war in Ukraine entered what analysts describe as its most dangerous moment yet.
Tensions rose when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile during an attack on Ukrainian soil. The projectile carried conventional warheads, but is capable of carrying nuclear material.
The launch took place after Ukraine launched an offensive inside Russian territory using weapons manufactured by Western powers, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
Western intelligence reports that Russia is using North Korean troops in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang neither deny nor confirm the report.
President Vladimir Putin, who replaced his defense minister in May, has said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively — and that Russia will achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine, although he did not elaborate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Putin’s main goals are to occupy the entire Donbass region, encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to expel Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region, which they have controlled parts of since August. .
This content was originally published in Russia says Trump’s team needs to take the first step to improve relations on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
