"Moscow has never been a supporter of severing ties in general with the European countries, with the European Union. Moscow has always been a supporter of the diversification and development of these relations, of giving a new impetus to these relations," Peskov told reporters when asked whether Moscow was ready to reach a compromise with Britain and the West on political and economic issues.
On Tuesday, a delegation of UK officials met with Russian government members in Moscow, during which Russian and British lawmakers agreed to resume contacts after a more than two-year break, according to Alexei Pushkov, the chairman of the international committee of the Russian State Duma.
Relations between Russia and the West, including the United Kingdom, deteriorated following the 2014 crisis and subsequent conflict in Ukraine between the government in Kiev and autonomy seekers in the east of the country. Washington, Brussels and their allies have accused Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict and introduced several rounds of sanctions.
Russia has denied the allegations and introduced a one-year food embargo in August 2014 on products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it. The ban has since been extended.
