Russia Open To Make Contact With Trump Administration But Ball Is In US Court: Moscow

Moscow: Days after Kremlin denied media reports that US President-elect Donald Trump held a call with Vlimir Putin, in which he is said to have warned Russian president against escalating war in Ukraine, Russia's foreign minister on Thursday said that his country has no expectations from new US ministration, but will assess its concrete steps.

Russia is open to contact with US under Donald Trump ministration, but ball is in US court, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with journalist Marina Kim as reported in by its state media TASS.

Putin always rey to communicate with Trump's Govt

"President Putin said at a meeting of Valdai International Discussion Club that he is always rey to communicate. It was not us who interrupted communication: ball is in US court," Lavrov said in response to a question, media outlet reported.

"re will be no expectations and no assumptions. We will judge by concrete cases," Russia's top diplomat noted.

Washington Post on Sunday reported that a call between two leers h taken place last week, following declaration of results of US presidential elections. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said reports were “pure fiction."

Containing China will be priority task for US, Says Lavrov

Furr, Lavrov on Thursday said that containing China will be a priority task for United States under Donald Trump, while Washington views Russia as a “present-day threat.”

" task of containing China was set by ministration of Joe Biden. I assume it will remain a priority for ministration of Donald Trump, too. And we are 'threat' of today. Washington cannot allow Russia to prove that it is a powerful player or undermine West's reputation," Lavrov said.

"Any US ministration", he said, "wants a weaker Russia and seeks to suppress it as a rival." He pointed out that Americans h long declared idea that “re should be no country in world more influential than United States.”

Russia says US cares more for its reputation 

Russian minister said that US cares more for its reputation and does not care about real fates of people, in particular of Ukrainians. 

"y don't care about Ukraine. y care about ir reputation: y once said that Ukraine would have this government, but suddenly someone dared to object. Russia? A large country, indeed, but it needs to be put in its place. This is what it's all about, it's not about fate of Ukrainian people at all. y don't care about people," minister was cited as saying by state media. Asked about a truce between Russia and Ukraine, Lavrov reiterated, “Russian President Putin has repeatedly said that we have never refused to negotiate.”

According to him, “none of those in Republican camp who reportedly offer breakthrough ideas on how to end Ukraine conflict has mentioned need to restore right of Ukrainian population to speak Russian, learn, teach and receive information in Russian.”

Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump plans to appoint a special envoy to hold talks on a peaceful solution to conflict in Ukraine according to US TV channel Fox News which cited multiple sources.

"You're going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement," one of sources said in report on Wednesday. "You're going to see that in short order," it said.

According to Fox News, job is not expected to be a salaried role; Kurt Volker served as a special representative to Ukrainian negotiations on a volunteer basis in 2017-19.

Previously, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, ahe of US presidential election, said that it makes no difference for Russia what election outcome will be, given two-party consensus that emerged in United States regarding confrontation toward country.

"If anything changes in US policy and any proposals to us appear, we will be rey to examine m in terms of matching Russia's interests. In any case Russia will resolutely defend its interests, particularly where national security is concerned," she h said.