Trump May Struggle to Salvage Russia Ties Derailed by Outgoing US Leadership

© REUTERS / Andrew KellyRepublican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives for his election night rally at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives for his election night rally at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 9, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump in a phone conversation agreed in their views that the bilateral relations could not get any worse, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Monday, Putin and Trump held their first phone conversation after the latter’s election victory.

“Our readiness to work the new US administration on the basis of mutual respect of interest was stressed, and our readiness was shared by the US president-elect. The common vision of our bilateral relations, that they could not get worse, was characteristic,” Ushakov said.

Trump May Struggle to Salvage Russia Ties Derailed by Outgoing US Leadership

The current US administration is trying to drive its relations with Russia into a dead end which US President-elect Donald Trump may find hard to escape, Ushakov said.

"As of late, the outgoing team has been doing everything to drive our relations into a dead end from which the new team will find hard to drag these relations out, if it would like to do so," Ushakov told reporters.

Russia hopes that such steps will be taken and is ready to make efforts itself, according to the official.

Putin, Trump Touched Upon Syria, Discussions to Continue With Obama Until January 20

Putin discussed Syria with Trump by phone, but the issue will be discussed with the outgoing US administration until January 20, Ushakov said.

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"Lavrov will meet with Kerry in Lima now, but work [on Syria] is proceeding so-so. This issue was also discussed during a telephone conversation on November 14 between our president and the US president-elect, but until January 20 we are officially working with the outgoing administration, although contacts with representatives of the new administration are not ruled out," Ushakov told reporters.

He said the sides also voiced their common desire to join efforts in the fight against terrorism.

Ushakov said "the issue of Ukraine was touched upon only to a small extent."

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