MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - Russia will judge the United States' calls for normalizing relations by deeds, not words, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"They have made a decision that at the meeting with the U.S. secretary of state in Reykjavik it is necessary to speak in favor of stable and predictable relations with Russia. But if it means stable and predictable sanctions, probably it is not what we need, and we will judge the U.S.' calls for normalization based not on words - as there have been too many words already - but based on concrete deeds," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow on Monday when commenting on his upcoming meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Lavrov said he had mentioned it in his recent phone call with Blinken.
"As I understood, his approach is the same. We want to take a look at areas of bilateral relations, international life where our interests may coincide and where we will be able to look for a balance of our interests on the basis of equality and mutual respect," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will make its own decisions regarding forms and avenues of such cooperation, Lavrov said.
"The Russian Federation will also define the red lines that we will not cross when discussing the international agenda. This is absolutely true for the problem of strategic stability as well," he said.
Russia has outlined its approach to this issue more than once, Lavrov said.
"Everything that somehow concerns strategic stability, nuclear and non-nuclear weapons and offensive and defensive weapons, everything that impacts strategic stability should be on the negotiating table," the minister said.
The U.S. authorities are aware of this Russian approach, he said.
"I hope to see a professional conversation that will help clarify exactly what intentions the U.S. has as regards relations with us and as regards their stance on international problems that affect our interests one way or another," Lavrov said.