Live
Audio Only
Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev stated on Facebook that a recent dialogue between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, shows the “wide-ranging agenda” present in U.S.-Russian relations.
RELATED:
Algorithmic Censorship: Google News to 'De-Rank' RT, Sputnik
The heads of state had a phone conversation on Nov. 21 that lasted over an hour, according to the White House officials. Kremlin officials described the conversation, that covered geopolitical matters such as Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, and Iran, as "business-like and substantial.”
"The long-lasting and substantial conversation between Putin and Trump, according to mutual assessments, confirmed that a vast agenda remains in Russian-US relations, which may and should be discussed without preconditions and on an equal basis," said Kosachev, the chairman of the Russia’s Federation Council International Affairs Committee.
The issues which were discussed by Trump and Putin were described as important steps for advancing relations between the two countries, issues where both countries have substantial policy disagreements.
Opportunities for collaboration have fallen through in the past. "The responsibility rests with the US, not the Russian side," the senator noted.
This conversation follows an agreement on Syria that was reached between the two presidents in a sideline meeting during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) 2017 conference in Vietnam.
RELATED:
Latin America and Caribbean No Longer US Backyard: Russia
Controversies over ‘Russian meddling’ in the 2016 presidential election that saw Trump’s victory has hampered attempts at closer relations, as Trump faced backlash for saying that he believes that his Russian counterpart is ‘sincere.’
"I want to believe that Washington will sooner or later realize this. I’m sure Moscow won’t be late in arriving," Kosachev wrote.
Newsletter
