"It just simply all depends … on whether or not we see the kind of changes in posture by Russia and the opportunity perhaps to work on common interests," Pence said in an interview with the ABC broadcaster, speaking about the possibility of lifting sanctions from Russia amid the recent escalation of violence in Ukraine.
Pence noted that the common interests with Russia included fight against the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and the United States.
"The president made it clear that top priority of this administration is to hunt down and destroy ISIS and its source … Russia has a common interest in confronting radical Islamic terrorism and especially ISIS. If we have opportunities to work together, I think the president is looking for an opportunity to begin that relationship anew," Pence told the broadcaster.
US President Donald Trump is not going to let “semantics or the arguments of the past get in the way of exploring the ability to work together with Russia and with President Putin,” Pence stressed in an interview with the NBC news broadcaster on Sunday.
The latest round of sanctions was introduced at the end of December by former President Barack Obama's administration as retaliation for Russia's alleged meddling in US presidential elections, a claim that Moscow has also refuted.
During the presidential race, as well as after his victory in the vote, Trump has repeatedly stressed the necessity to mend ties with Russia and cooperate with Moscow on a number of issues.
