MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia would welcome the resumption of dialogue between the leaders of Russia and the United States, but the first step should be made by Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.
"Naturally, we will be glad to welcome the initiative of reviving the logic of dialogue and cooperation," he said. "We are ready to welcome our partners' moves."
The spokesman said that Russia was not the first to impose sanctions or fold bilateral dialogue and "can only regret that Washington started it all."
The relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated amid the Ukrainian crisis.
Washington has introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia, blaming Moscow for meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs.
Moscow in turn has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia has also played an important role in the Ukraine reconciliation efforts, brokering a ceasefire agreement between Kiev and pro-independence militias in February, along with France and Germany.
