Russia’s relations with the United States are now worse than they were during the Cold War because of a lack of mutual respect, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
In an interview with Russian state television, Lavrov said Moscow stands ready to normalize relations with Washington, but warned that the United States should stop treating Russia in its current posture, according to the Associated Press.
Lavrov warned that if the United States avoids mutually respectful dialogue on the basis of a balance of interests, “our two countries will live under conditions of ‘cold war’ or worse”.
Lavrov said that during the Cold War, tensions between Russia and the United States developed rapidly, often in dangerous crisis situations, but the two sides also received mutual respect. “It seems to me that this respect is no longer enough.”
On April 15, the United States announced sanctions and expelled 10 Russian diplomats in retaliation for what Washington called Kremlin interference in the U.S. election, massive cyberattacks and other hostile activities.
In response to new U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, deciding to expel 10 U.S. diplomats and ban eight U.S. citizens from entering the country.
Russian Foreign Minister: Russia and the United States lack mutual respect relations worse than during the Cold War
