Foreign Minister Lavrov on Russia-US Relations: Pragmatic, Must Seize Benefits from Every Project

The hot-and-cold relationship between Russia and the United States reflects the strength of both superpowers’ national interests. Although US President Donald Trump has on occasion stood alongside President Vladimir Putin, the strain between the two countries remains clearly visible — particularly regarding the recently expired New START nuclear treaty.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that relations between Russia and the US are currently pragmatic, as both countries recognise each other’s national interests.

“The relationship is pragmatic… We do communicate. We understand that we must use common sense. We acknowledge the national interests of the US,” Lavrov said in an interview with the Al Arabiya television network.

“Exactly a year ago, when I met with [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio in Riyadh, they told us that the US pursues its national interests. But they also acknowledged Russia’s national interests.”

“When these interests overlap, we must reap the benefits and carry out a number of projects. When these interests diverge, we must not allow them to lead to confrontation, especially a hot confrontation. We fully agree with that,” he added.

In conducting working group activities with the US, Russia is trying to understand how Washington’s desire to cooperate correlates with its efforts to push Russia out of energy markets, Lavrov said further.

“Although the Americans sincerely tell us that once the Ukraine issue is resolved, we can begin mutually beneficial cooperation, for the time being they are trying to force us out of the global energy market,” Lavrov said.

He added that “we have agreed with our American colleagues to establish a bilateral economic working group. We will discuss all of these issues within this working group.”