Putin's Call for 'Beneficial' Relations Between Russia and the U.S.

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Tuesday, October 3, called for 'beneficial bilateral relations' with Washington while receiving the credentials of the new U.S. ambassador in Moscow. According to Reuters, the U.S. Senate approved the appointment of Jon Huntsman, a businessman, veteran diplomat, and former presidential candidate, as the new U.S. ambassador to Moscow last week. He assumes this sensitive position at a time when relations between the two countries have dangerously plummeted to their lowest point. The relationship has been overshadowed by events such as Russia's annexation of Crimea and Moscow's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The U.S. and European countries have criticized these actions by Russia. After receiving Jon Huntsman's credentials at the Kremlin, in response to a question about bilateral relations with the U.S., Putin said, 'The level of relations is currently not satisfactory.' He added, 'We advocate for useful, constructive, and predictable bilateral cooperation. We have no doubt that these relations should be based on respect for principles such as equal relations, respect for interests, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.' Putin also expressed condolences to the American people regarding the Las Vegas shooting incident that left nearly 60 dead and over 500 injured. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said on Tuesday before the meeting that the Russian president wants to improve and revive relations with the U.S. but cannot do it alone. He added that there have been specific problems in the U.S. response to improving relations. Peskov also stated, 'But we hope that the new U.S. ambassador in Moscow can help improve relations between the two countries.' According to Reuters, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has promised to improve relations between the two countries, which have fallen to their lowest level since the Cold War due to the Ukraine crisis. However, allegations regarding cooperation between members of Trump's campaign and associates with the Russian government during the U.S. presidential election have overshadowed his efforts. The news agency added that Jon Huntsman, 57, a former governor of Utah, has served in various capacities in the U.S. government, including a significant role as the U.S. ambassador to China during Barack Obama's presidency. After completing this term in 2012, he ran for the Republican nomination for the presidential election. Huntsman stated last week during his credential review session in the U.S. Senate, 'There is no doubt that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and also plays a role in 'threatening stability' in Europe.' The new U.S. ambassador said on Tuesday after the ceremony of presenting his credentials to Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, 'I will work to restore trust between the two countries and strengthen bilateral relations based on cooperation and common interests.' He added, 'I will strive to familiarize various segments of the Russian people with American values and perspectives, and in return, I will seek to increase my understanding of Russia's interesting history and culture.' The U.S. embassy in Moscow stated that Huntsman will return to Washington for a few days for final consultations before officially starting his duties as ambassador next week.