Ryabkov says Russia ready to mend relations with the U.S.

Russia is ready to consider any proposals to improve relations with the United States. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters on December 18.

"We will certainly consider any appeals on this topic, as well as on other topics concerning the need to return at least relative normality to relations between Moscow and Washington," the diplomat said.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that this issue "is not of today or tomorrow." According to him, at the moment there is no understanding regarding the establishment of relations between Russia and the United States. In addition, the intentions of the future US special envoy on Ukraine Keith Kellogg are unknown.

Earlier, on December 6, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Russian Federation and the United States could cooperate for the sake of the universe. The diplomat also added that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly expressed his respect for the American people, the history of the United States, American achievements in the world.

Before that, on November 19, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is open to normalizing relations with the United States, but Washington should take retaliatory actions.

In late August, US President-elect Donald Trump said that building good relations between Russia and the US was the right approach. According to him, "getting along with Russia is good, not bad, it's smart."