Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his American counterpart Donald Trump that the Kremlin is ready for entering into dialogue with the White House on a “wide-ranging agenda” as Moscow-Washington relations are currently at their worst since the end of the Cold War era.
The Russian leader made the invitation in a letter sent to Trump on Sunday on the occasion of Christmas, a month after the US president abruptly canceled a planned meeting with Putin on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Argentina, citing tensions caused following Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian navy ships off the coast of Crimea.
“Vladimir Putin stressed that the (Russia – United States) relations are the most important factor for providing strategic stability and international security,” said the Kremlin in a statement on Sunday, adding, “He confirmed that Russia is open for dialogue with the USA on the most wide-ranging agenda.”
Moscow’s relations with the West, particularly with the United States, remain tense over the Ukrainian crisis, the conflict in Syria, and the allegations of Russian interference in the US presidential election in 2016.