MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - Moscow will respond to signals from the team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on resuming dialogue with Russia if these signals are serious, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"Nonetheless, of course, we hear the signals coming from the Trump team regarding their readiness to resume dialogue, which is completely reasonable and normal. The meaning of diplomacy is to maintain dialogue at all times, even when interstate relations are hostile, in order to hear who wants to communicate to the counterpart and what. Diplomats communicate even during wars," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian and foreign media.
"Hence, if the signals coming from the new team in Washington regarding the resumption of dialogue disrupted by Washington after the start of the special military operation are serious, of course, we will respond to them. Still, the dialogue was disrupted by the Americans, and it is up to them to take the first step. We are awaiting a formal elaboration of the Trump administration's policy for Russia. If Washington takes our lawful interests into account, then the dialogue will of course not be useless, it will be productive, but if our interests are disregarded, then everything will remain as it is," Lavrov said.