(VOVworld) – Russia is ready to do its part to restore relations with the US, which suffered major damage under Barack Obama, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Austria’s Profil weekly on Sunday.

President Vladimir Putin (center), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left), and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) in a meeting in Moscow (Photo: EPA/VNA)

Lavrov said Moscow is closely watching President Trump’s statements about Russia, adding that it is too early to say how Russia will work with the Republican Party on certain issues. Moscow must wait for key figures in the new administration to specify their foreign relations priorities and then it will be possible to have expectations, Lavrov said. He added that Russia and the US have an untapped potential for cooperation in innovation, technology, and fighting international terrorism.