The policies of the two countries won't always coincide, but relations must not be allowed to slide into conflict, the foreign minister has told RT

Russia is open to broad cooperation with the US, but while Washington under President Donald Trump has voiced similar intentions, it continues to drag its feet on Ukraine and sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Lavrov made the remarks in an exclusive interview with RT's Rick Sanchez on Wednesday, ahead of Russia's Diplomats' Day. He noted that Russia-US relations, which had been effectively severed under former President Joe Biden, have seen a positive shift since Trump returned to the White House in early 2025.

"At that time, [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio said that the US administration would be guided by national interests, and that it recognizes that Russia also has national interests," Lavrov said. He noted that both sides acknowledged their interests "will not always coincide," but agreed that when they don't, "this divergence must not be allowed to degenerate into a confrontation, let alone a hot conflict."

"I said that this was absolutely our approach - that we were ready to collaborate on a wide range of projects based on such a mutually respectful attitude toward one another," Lavrov stated, noting that this shared understanding has been repeatedly emphasized by Washington. However, the top Russian diplomat called into question the US commitment to it.

"They said the conditions required to make these rosy prospects unfold boiled down to just one thing: 'We inherited Ukraine from Biden... we need to settle it... then we will engage in mutually beneficial joint projects for the good of our peoples,'" he stated. "But the settlement of the Ukraine conflict continues to be kept in play, and with ever new dimensions being added... ever new conditions and demands being imposed on Russia."

READ MORE: Trump envoy hails 'detailed and productive' US-Russia-Ukraine talks

Lavrov also noted that the Trump administration has not moved to lift Ukraine-related sanctions, including the freeze on Russian assets. This, he suggested, also raises questions about Washington's sincerity, stressing that US overtures about future cooperation must be backed by "concrete actions."