"Our relations with the USA are characterized by pragmatism, sober estimate of contradictions and agreements," Trubnikov told Azeri and Russian journalists, commenting on the present Russian-US relations.
"We are striving for progress if it is possible and assess each other's contributions into our relations," the Deputy Foreign Minister said. In his words, there will be no return to US-Soviet relations.
According to Trubnikov, Russian-US relations are constructive and we shouldn't exaggerate temporary hardships. "Hardships are a sign of healthy relations," he said. "Another matter are attempts by the US and European Union to suppress Russia in the post-Soviet space. Sometimes our American partners did not conceal it," Vyacheslav Trubnikov noted. We should stick to the positions of healthy competition, he added.
Trubnikov believes that sovereign states, the former Soviet republics, have a choice and alternative. However, links which formed in Russia and the former Soviet Union should be preserved. Both old and new friends are important, the deputy minister said.
