Putin confirms intention to restore relations with U.S.

Restoration of full-format relations with the United States is in Russia's interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a session of the international Valdai Discussion Club.

"Russia reserves the right to follow our national interests. One of which, by the way, is restoration of full-format relations with the U.S.," Putin said.

At the same time, he stressed that there are still contradictions in Moscow-Washington ties.

"Our countries, as we know, have many points of disagreement. Our views on many global issues clash. This is normal for such major powers," Putin said.

In fact, naturally, the most important thing is how to resolve these disagreements, and to what extent they can be resolved peacefully."