Interfax: Medvedev: Reset for Russia-U.S. relations impossible for now

(Interfax – October 15, 2014) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev believes a reset for Russia-U.S. relations will be impossible while sanctions are still in place, at least until the sides “go back to square one.”

“No, of course not. It’s absolutely impossible,” Medvedev said in an interview with the channel CNBS answering a question whether a reset could happen while sanctions were still in place. Press Digest: Will Turkey use war against ISIS to change regime in Syria?

“I have no doubt that after a while these sanctions will dissipate; there will be no more sanctions, but we can’t deny the fact that they have damaged our relations,” the premier said.

“But when the foundations of international relations, which we have worked so hard for, are being sacrificed to impose all sorts of restrictions just to show how tough and quick to punish they are… well, in my opinion, it’s an absolutely destructive, and I would even go as far as saying, a stupid position,” Medvedev continued.

“It’s like some kind of mental aberration,” he said speaking of the statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, which said that the threats and challenges facing humanity were the Ebola virus, the Russian Federation, and only then the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

“What kind of reset is possible in these circumstances? It’s imperative to leave all of that behind, get back to normalcy, perhaps, go back to square one, and only then talk about our future relations,” Medvedev said.

He added that Russia was open for a constructive dialogue with the U.S. and European partners.

“We are not closing any doors. All that we want is a constructive and friendly dialogue with all civilized nations, including, of course, our partners in Europe and the United States. But to do so, we must bring the situation back to normal,” the premier stated.

[featured image is file photo]