Russia wants ‘mutually respectful’ ties with US, denies threatening Ukraine
- ‘We want good, equal, mutually respectful relations with the US, like with every country in the world,” says Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
- Meanwhile, Britain is preparing to unveil sanctions against Moscow that would target companies close to the Kremlin
Russia said Sunday it wants “mutually respectful” relations with the United States and denied posing a threat to Ukraine, as the UK said it was preparing fresh sanctions against Moscow.
Tensions have soared between Moscow and Washington after Western governments accused Russia of amassing tens of thousands of troops on its border with ex-Soviet Ukraine.
The military build-up has sparked fears that Russia is planning an invasion, spooking Nato and its members in the region and prompting the Western alliance to explore bolstering its own deployments there.
“We want good, equal, mutually respectful relations with the United States, like with every country in the world,” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian TV on Sunday.
He added, however, that Russia does not want to remain in a position “where our security is infringed daily”.