 "Putin hopes for improved relations after US polls")
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that Russia-US relations may recover after the presidential elections in the United States.
"I hope that when these elections, debates, this difficult period in the internal political situation in the United States ends, there will be chances to restore Russia-US relations," Putin said at a press conference on Sunday in India, where he was visiting to attend the BRICS Summit.
"Confrontation is not our choice," he added.
Russia-US relations have been deteriorating since the Ukrainian crisis and tensions began to escalate as a result of their disputes over the Syrian settlement and Washington's claim that Russia has interfered in the upcoming US presidential elections by launching cyber attacks, reports Xinhua.
Putin has, however, denied that Russia has any intention to interfere in the US presidential election campaign, saying this would not be in line with the norms of international communication.
When asked about the anti-Russia sanctions, Putin said that rather than solving issues in Ukraine or Syria, the purpose of the sanctions was just about formulating a "containment policy against Russia," adding that work on the international arena requires some concessions and compromises.