VIENNA (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump won the US presidential elections despite most of the analysts and opinion polls predicting his defeat to Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.
"I remember a speech by President [Vladimir] Putin, a year ago when he met with foreign business circles and said that people like him, and pointed to himself, should not prevent people like you from living and working normally," Ulyukayev said.
"Unfortunately, people like us, the political class in the broad sense of the word, have much succeeded in its efforts to prevent business from working," he told Austrian business circles.
No Hasty Conclusions Regarding Russia-US Relations After Trump's Victory
Ulyukayev said there should be no hasty conclusions regarding Russia-US relations after Trump's victory, but that Russia will do everything possible to restore relations with the United States.
"I am afraid to scare away the hope, I would say. I remember we had great expectations eight years ago, when Barack Obama was elected president. A reset of relations was much discussed then, and some steps were made," Ulyukayev said.
"Unfortunately, we have arrived at a result that is not very good. So I think we should be reserved in assessments," the minister told Austrian business circles.