Lavrov Says Russia Willing To Work With Any U.S. Leader

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov listens during a press conference at UN headquarters in New York on July 17.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a July 17 UN press conference that Moscow is willing to work with any elected U.S. leader who is willing to engage in “equitable, mutually respectful dialogue.” On Donald Trump’s nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, Lavrov said that there “was still dialogue under way” despite sanctions under the 2016-2020 Trump administration. Lavrov also welcomed Trump’s selection of Senator J.D. Vance (Republican-Ohio), a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, as his running mate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on July 15 that if Trump becomes president, “we will work together” and underscored Republican support for Ukraine. Trump has said he would resolve the war in Ukraine quickly if he is reelected.