The dialog between Russia and the United States should be built on an equal and mutually respectful basis, taking into account the significant role of the two countries. This opinion was expressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at an operational meeting with members of the Security Council.

“I would like to emphasize that we have never refused to dialog, we have always been ready to maintain even relations of cooperation with any American administration. I have already spoken about this repeatedly,” the Russian leader said.

“We proceed from the fact that the dialog will be built on an equal and mutually respectful basis, taking into account the significant role played by our countries on a number of key issues on the agenda in the world, including the strengthening of strategic stability and security,” he stressed.

Putin also congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump on taking office.

“We see the statement of the newly elected US president and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, interrupted through no fault of ours, by the outgoing administration. We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent a third world war. Of course, we welcome this attitude and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office,” Putin said, Interfax reports.