The relations between Moscow and Washington are at the lowest point since the end of the Cold War, but Russia is expecting to resume a constructive dialogue, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper published on Wednesday.
“The political situation today is indeed unfavorable, the relations of the two countries are currently at the lowest point since the end of the Cold War”, he believes. However, Patrushev noted that the long history of the relations between Russia and the USA shows that the states “demonstrated the ability to establish cooperation despite disagreements” in crucial moments.
“This is the reason why we still believe that common sense will prevail in Washington and a substantive dialogue between Russia and America will begin over issues that cannot be effectively resolved in principle without our constructive cooperation”, the Russian Security Council Secretary highlighted.
Specifying which issues could be discussed in the first place, Patrushev explained, “First of all this is the sphere of strategic stability and arms control”. He noted that there is already a positive example in this area, namely the extension of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which gives hope that the bilateral relations can be normalized.
In response to the request to list other spheres where the cooperation between Russia and the US is possible, Patrushev explained that there is “certain potential for joint work on such issues as combating international terrorism and extremism, organized crime and other challenges and threats.” “And also on a number of regional topics, such as Syria, the Middle Eastern settlement, the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action”, he pointed out.
According to the Russian Security Council Secretary, “interaction is needed on such acute humanitarian issues as hunger, environment pollution and fighting climate change”. “The destabilizing effect of the pandemic should not be forgotten which we can also tackle together”, he highlighted. Patrushev added that there is a long overdue need to discuss issues of cyber security. “Especially in light of Russia’s existing concerns and the accusations that have been made against us for years”, he noted.
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Based on materials from TASS