‘There is a need for a mutual political will. President Putin has repeatedly demonstrated his political will. He said that we are interested in establishing and restoring relations with the United States,’ Peskov said, according to the TASS news agency.

He indicated that, ‘unfortunately,’ Washington’s statements about its willingness to hold a dialogue on issues of mutual interest with Russia do not coincide with concrete facts that damage bilateral relations.

Moscow has not launched any action that could damage relations with the United States, it has not been the initiator of their deterioration and ‘of taking them to the state in which they are,’ said the press officer of the Russian Presidency.

Ties between the two countries were further affected after the high-profile interview with US President Joseph Biden, who said that Moscow would have to ‘pay the price’ for alleged interference in the 2020 elections, and responded on the affirmative when the journalist asked him if he considered President Putin a murderer.

On April 15th, the head of the White House approved a group of sanctions against Russia, including the expulsion from the U.S. of 10 diplomats from the Russian diplomatic missions in Washington and New York.

He also prohibited companies in that country from directly buying Russian debt securities issued by the Central Bank, the National Wealth Fund or the Ministry of Finance of this country after June 14th, 2021.

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