(VOVworld) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chaired the annual press conference recapping Russia’s external achievements in 2015 and its future policy. Lavrov mentioned a possible reset of the Russian-American relationship.

Sergey Lavrov recaps Russian diplomacic results in the annual press conference

Some 450 Russian and foreign reporters attended the conference. While discussing Russia’s foreign relations, Lavrov said he wants to see a reset in the Russian-American relationship. As for Crimea, he said Russia is not holding any talks with anyone about returning Crimea to Ukraine. Crimea is a territory of the Russian Federation in full accordance with the expression of the will of the people, Lavrov said.

He said Russia is open to negotiation on the matter of relations with Ukraine and the Minsk Accords, presuming noninterference in the internal affairs of each country.

He criticized the US and the West’s unconstructive and dangerous policy towards Russia, including its expansion of NATO. He said Russia is willing to cooperate on an equal basis with the EU and US, but will do everything it can to prevent being economically dependent on the West.

Lavrov’s statement underlined Russia’s independent stance on Syria and Ukraine.

Russian-American relations started cooling long before the Ukraine crisis and plunged sharply after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which triggered economic sanctions on Russia’s energy, finance, and trade. In retaliation, Russia imposed food sanctions on the US, the EU, Australia, Canada, and Norway.

Since then Russian-American relations have seen a few positive signs. The two countries have agreed on the issues of terrorism, and Iran’s nuclear program. Washington has accepted Moscow’s view that the Syrian people should decide the fate of President Bashar al-Assad. The US shift in policy toward President al-Assad shows flexibility on global issues, under the increasing threat from IS. At Syrian peace talks in the US, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that despite their differences, if they head in the same direction, Syrian peace can be realized.