Russia expects West to accept its position on Ukraine - Peskov

NEW YORK, February 26. /TASS/. International cooperation between Russia and the West may resume when the West accepts Moscow’s position on Ukraine, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN in an interview published on Wednesday. Answering a question about a possible thaw in relations between Russia and the West, Peskov said: "We have witnessed a tremendous clash of interests, collapse of interests in the heart of Europe, in Ukraine." "So in the front of illegitimate armed takeover, armed coup that occurred in Kiev one year ago, Russia took a position - quite understandable one - but very, very frank, very open and very firm," the spokesman stressed. "As soon as this position is accepted with understanding, I think that we all will be ready to resume our cooperation or interaction that we all desperately need in order to be effective in combating challenges that we will face," he added. The spokesman noted that differences over Ukraine have already led to deterioration in cooperation in the key spheres. "Right now, unfortunately, we don’t have any cooperation in very sensitive fields like combating terror, like whatever. And a single country cannot be effective," Peskov said. "At the same time, Russia cannot move behind the red line in terms of presuming and ensuring its own national interests," he stressed. "The only thing we want is that our national interests, our sovereign rights and sovereign interests ... [are] treated with due respect. And soon as it happens, there will be a time for new Renaissance in [our] international relationship," Peskov concluded. Read more