MOSCOW (Sputnik) — US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is on his first visit to Russia since May 2013, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov behind closed doors on Tuesday.
Lavrov said during the talks that Moscow was ready for constructive cooperation with Washington both in bilateral relations and on the global arena, "where our countries bear the utmost responsibility for global security and stability."
"But this cooperation is possible only on a fair and equal basis, without attempts to dictate or apply pressure [on Russia]," Lavrov stressed.
"Attempts to apply sanctions pressure on us is a path to a deadlock. Russia will not be forced to forsake its national interests or its principal position on vital issues," Lavrov added.
