Vladimir Putin ready to resume cooperation with Slovakia

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to resume constructive cooperation with Slovakia, if the country is interested. He said this during a ceremony in the Kremlin during which he was presented with the credentials of the ambassadors of several countries, including Slovakia. The TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying that political contacts between Russia and Slovakia are "unfortunately limited, but if the Slovak side is ready, it will be possible to continue the mutually beneficial and constructive cooperation that they have maintained for years." According to the Slovak Foreign Ministry, Slovakia is ready to continue building constructive relations with Russia, which should however include an open dialogue concerning differing views on some international issues.