Sputnik- Foreign Minister said that Russia is ready to transform its dialogue with the United States toward a more constructive path.


MOSCOW (Sputnik) � Russia is ready to�transform its dialogue with�the United States toward�a more constructive path, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday.


"Russia� is ready to�do its part of�the work to�rechannel dialogue with�Washington toward�a constructive channel, primarily in�order to�find effective responses to�the challenges of�terrorism," Lavrov said at�an opening ceremony for�political consultations among�members of�the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).


Since 2014, relations between�Russia and the United States deteriorated amid�the crisis in�Ukraine, and Washington as�well as�Brussels and their allies have introduced several rounds of�anti-Russia sanctions over�Moscow's alleged involvement in�the Ukrainian conflict.

On Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev characterized the souring of�Russian-US ties as�the worst foreign policy mistake made by�the administration of�outgoing US President Barack Obama.

At the same time, during�the election campaign US President-elect Donald Trump pointed out�that in�case of�his victory US-Russian elections could be improved. On January 15, Trump said in�an interview with�The Times and Bild media outlets that US sanctions against�Russia could be lifted in�exchange for�a bilateral agreement on�the reduction of�nuclear weapons.