Russian Foreign Minister Indicates Possibility of Reestablishing US Relations

Synopsis

On April 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed that Russia and the US could potentially enhance their relations amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict. He highlighted the importance of addressing root causes for a sustainable resolution and criticized previous US isolation policies.

Key Takeaways

Lavrov believes in the potential for improved US-Russia relations.
Trump acknowledged NATO's involvement in Ukraine as a mistake.
Discussions on diplomatic normalization are ongoing.
Lavrov criticized the Biden administration's isolation policy.
Progress on banking services for diplomatic missions has been made.

Istanbul, April 12 (NationPress) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Saturday that there exists a potential for improving ties between Russia and the United States, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"There is always potential," the minister remarked during the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey when questioned about the likelihood of Moscow and Washington taking proactive steps to mend relations.

Lavrov also noted that US President Donald Trump stands out as one of the few Western leaders who recognizes that the Ukrainian conflict can only be resolved by addressing its underlying causes.

"The only way to tackle the issue and attain lasting peace is by addressing the root causes. President Trump has become the first and, to my knowledge, almost the only Western leader who has consistently stated that involving Ukraine in NATO was a mistake. This is one of the primary reasons we have highlighted repeatedly," he added.

Stressing that the US acknowledges the necessity of resolving territorial disputes within the framework of the Ukrainian settlement, Lavrov stated, "They understand that territorial matters should be addressed in the context of achieving a sustainable resolution."

Discussions on bilateral relations are ongoing, beginning with the normalization of diplomatic missions. Moscow is also exploring the possibility of collaborative projects with Washington, as indicated by the Russian Foreign Minister at the forum.

Lavrov criticized the approach of the previous US administration under Joe Biden, which aimed to isolate Russia.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from Donald Trump, in Saint Petersburg regarding the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin reported that the meeting concentrated on "various facets of the Ukrainian settlement", without providing further details.

Earlier, the Russian consulate in Istanbul announced that progress has been made in securing banking and financial services for Russian and US diplomatic missions during the second round of bilateral discussions in Istanbul.

Delegations from both nations "exchanged diplomatic notes to formalize agreed commitments. These commitments aim to ensure seamless banking and financial services for Russian and American diplomatic missions, in addition to fulfilling the Russian Federation's contributions to the budgets of the UN and other international organizations," the consulate stated.

The two parties "agreed to create a roadmap" concerning the return of six diplomatic properties seized by US authorities, which are legally owned by Russia, according to the consulate.