Matviyenko: We expect positive dialogue with U.S., Foreign Ministry is preparing meeting between Putin, Trump
MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Russia is expecting open dialogue with the United States, and the Russian Foreign Ministry is preparing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"It is no secret that an agreement on a personal meeting was reached in a phone conversation between the Russian and U.S. presidents, and the Russian Foreign Ministry is, naturally, preparing such a serious event," Matviyenko told reporters on Wednesday.
"We are interested in open, honest and mutually respectful dialogue. We do not want confrontation," Matviyenko said.
The agreements that the leaders of Russia and the U.S. may reach will influence the global situation in general.
"It seems to me there are expectations of a positive agenda, primarily on the issues in which both sides are interested and in which Russia and the U.S. can achieve a positive result by working together," she said.
Matviyenko is talking about uniting efforts in the fight against international terrorism and in a whole number of other areas where cooperation between the two countries can be constructive and effective.
"No doubt, it's the bilateral agenda, the need to defreeze our relations, but it is clear that it will not happen overnight. Time is needed, the realization of positions and a search for mutually acceptable decisions are needed," Matviyenko said.
It is a serious lengthy process of the work of the foreign policy and defense agencies, and also the administrations of the two presidents.
"But in any case, one should prepare for such a meeting seriously. I repeat, we expect positive dialogue, not confrontation," Matviyenko said.