As the United States and Russia cautiously step back into diplomatic engagement, both sides appear aware of a sobering reality: the damage inflicted on bilateral relations over the past decade cannot be erased overnight. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a recent interview with RIA Novosti, outlined the challenges facing Moscow and Washington as they attempt to restore a working relationship after years of hostility, sanctions, and diplomatic breakdowns.

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, Moscow believes the climate for dialogue has shifted. Lavrov acknowledges that the new administration has shown “readiness to resume dialogue,” yet he stresses that progress remains slow and complicated. The foreign minister’s comments reflect a combination of cautious optimism and frustration-an understanding that Washington may be more open to engagement, but the legacy of past confrontations still casts a long shadow.

Russia-US relations have been spiraling downward for years, with flashpoints ranging from election interference allegations to tit-for-tat sanctions. By the end of Joe Biden’s presidency, diplomatic contact between the two countries had reached one of its lowest points since the Cold War.

Lavrov bluntly described the situation as “many irritants… inherited from the previous US administration,” emphasizing that “it will take a long time to clear up the mess.” These irritants include disputes over diplomatic properties, air travel restrictions, sweeping sanctions, and the broader geopolitical rupture caused by the Ukraine conflict.

The deterioration did not begin........

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