The results of the upcoming US presidential election will have little to no impact on Washington’s attitude towards Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Newsweek published on Monday.
According to the diplomat, the two main political parties in the US have already reached a consensus on countering Russia, so it makes no difference for Moscow whether the next president is Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
Lavrov added, however, that if there is a political change in the US and new proposals are presented to Russia, it will consider them.
“At all events, we will promote Russia’s interests decisively, especially as far as its national security is concerned,” Lavrov said, adding that it would be appropriate for the next US president to also focus on America’s own domestic issues.
“It would be natural for the White House resident, no matter who they are, to mind their domestic business, rather than looking for adventures tens of thousands miles away from American coasts. I am confident that US electors think the same.”
The comments come as relations between Russia and the US have reached one of the lowest points in history, with both sides expressing doubt that they will improve any time soon.
Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow is preparing for a “long confrontation” with the US – given the “bipartisan ant-Russian consensus” that has emerged in Washington – and has been sending “warning signals to our adversary so that it does not underestimate this determination of ours.”
Meanwhile, the US has continued to introduce more restrictions against Russia, recently targeting Russian media, including RT, with sanctions for what US officials claim to be a “malign” government-sponsored influence campaign aimed at manipulating American voters.
Moscow has condemned the “Russophobic” attitude of the US. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last month that the policies adopted in Washington are a sign of the “irreversible degradation” of democratic values in the US and the country’s transformation into a “totalitarian neoliberal dictatorship.”