Russia has repeatedly offered the United States to improve bilateral relations in the spheres of strategic stability and economy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Izvestiya multimedia information center.
The relations with the U.S. are "undermined" and, "unfortunately, this process continues," he stressed.
"We are not begging to be friends," but Russia's proposals on "how to improve bilateral relations" have been repeatedly extended to the American colleagues, including during
"the meetings between the presidents and at my meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, as well as with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton," Lavrov said.
Russia and the U.S. have "many common interests in the world, as well as many common responsibilities," the Russian top diplomat said, stressing that developing relations in trade, economy, culture and humanitarian sphere would benefit both countries.
"Unfortunately, despite intentions to normalize relations with Russia that have been confirmed many times by U.S. President Donald Trump and other key officials, nothing positive is happening at the practical level. The 'downward' trend continues," TASS cited the foreign minister as saying.
The United States continues to impose unilateral sanctions, "without even trying to justify this," he noted. Lavrov noted that it "contradicts the attitude" that Trump projects.
