Nothing should impede normalisation of Russia’s relations with the West: Putin
Russian president says normalisation 'does not only depend on us' in interview as he expresses hope of good relations with new Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg
President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said nothing should impede the normalisation of relations between Russia and the West, after ties hit a post-Cold War low due to the stand-off over Ukraine.
His remark, which contrasted with weeks of hostile rhetoric on both sides, came after talks between Russia, Ukraine and the West on Thursday in which an agreement was forged on initial steps to ease the crisis.
“It [normalising relations] does not depend on us, or does not only depend on us. It depends on our partners,” Putin said in comments released by Russian news agencies from a state television interview to be broadcast later.
“I think that there is nothing that should stand in the way of a normalisation and normal co-operation,” he added.
Putin expressed hope that Russia would be able to establish good relations with the incoming Nato secretary-general, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, after testy exchanges with the outgoing chief of the alliance, ex-Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
“I think that there is nothing that should stand in the way of a normalisation and normal co-operation.”
“We have very good relations. And this includes personal relations. He [Stoltenberg] is a very serious, responsible person and let’s see how the relations work in his new function,” said Putin.