ST. PETERSBURG. June 19 (Interfax) - Russia has great respect for U.S. President Donald Trump's wish to restore relations between the two countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"We have great respect for his intention to restore relations with Russia in many areas of security and economic activity," Putin said at a meeting with heads of international news agencies.
When speaking about a possible meeting with Trump, Putin said that "it [such a meeting] could certainly be extremely useful. I agree with the president of the United States that it must, of course, be prepared and end with some positive results."
"A good track has been chosen," Putin said, adding that he has already spoken with Trump over the phone several times.
Contacts are ongoing with representatives of U.S. businesses willing to return to the Russian market, which inspires certain cautious optimism, he said.
"I hope that both the U.S. president and his inner circle will see and hear this. And together with business representatives, decisions will be made aimed at restoring Russian-American relations. We are also keeping in touch with both [U.S.] Secretary of State Mr. [Marco] Rubio and Vice President Mr. [JD] Vance. And, on the whole, at quite a gradual pace, these relations, in any case conditions are being created to restore these relations," Putin said.
"We hope that this trend will be maintained. We are ready for it," he said.