Moscow has not had any contacts with the transition team of the designated US President Donald Trump, said the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. However, there is a willingness to engage in a dialogue, even on the most pressing issues, he emphasized to journalists on Tuesday, as reported by the news agency RIA Novosti.
Fundamental principles of mutual respect and equality would be the basis for a dialogue with Washington, the diplomat stressed. Without this approach, the talks would be doomed to fail. If the future US government under Trump were to repeat the mistakes of its predecessors, the discussion with the US would go in vain, Ryabkov said.
“For them, it is time to recognize that Russia is steadily and successfully moving towards the implementation of the goals of the military special operation and that these goals will be achieved” he added.
This does not rule out the possibility of a dialogue, Ryabkov further noted. The conversation must, however, be “exclusively and strictly” based on the recognition of Russia’s national interests. At the same time, our determination to defend these interests “with all the means at our disposal” should be accepted.
Ryabkov also called on the US to recognize reality and “not live in the captivity of their own illusions and their own propaganda clichés, which they are trying to impose on the part of the world that still listens to them.”
Earlier, Trump had stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed a desire to meet with him, and both sides were preparing for a meeting. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov then announced that Putin was open to talks with state and government heads, including the US President. There were no concrete preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump, but the political will was present, “because such contacts are very, very necessary and appropriate” the Kremlin stated.
Trump also announced in an interview that he wanted to meet with Putin “very quickly” after taking office on January 20. He first needed to move into the White House, however.