Putin: Improvement of Russian-American relations possible if desired

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his belief that improving relations between Russia and the United States is possible, provided there is a desire to do so.

In an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, Putin emphasized that "everything can be done if you have the desire. We have never lost this desire," when asked about the prospect of bettering Russian-American ties, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

Putin pointed out that while international relations are subject to change, the interests of Russia and its people remain constant.

“If we see that the situation is changing in such a way that there are opportunities and prospects to build relations with other countries, we are ready for it. The question is not about us, but about them. But only not to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation,” he said.

In the same interview, Putin reflected on the past, criticizing the previous generation of Russian politicians for compromising the country’s well-being in hopes of joining the "civilized world."

“We have passed the period in modern history when our previous generation of politicians, in my opinion, went even to the destruction of their own country in the hope that Russia would become part of the so-called civilized world. And this civilized world only wanted that,” he stated.

He continued, saying that once Russia’s potential had weakened, the West began to treat the country as expendable, rather than an equal partner.

“As soon as Russia's potential shrank, it weakened, they started to finish it off, instead of making it an equal partner and participant of this civilized world.”

Putin concluded by emphasizing that any future relations Russia builds, including those with the West, will be grounded in Russia's national interests. “Unfortunately, this is the way the world works, at least today. And if we build relations with anyone, we will build them only on the basis of the interests of the Russian state,” he said.

By Khagan Isayev