With tensions near a breaking point between the U.S. and Russia ...
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is calling for a "reset 2.0".
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING:
"We are absolutely interested in our relations normalizing, but it wasn't us who destroyed them. And now, there needs to probably be, like a, I don't know whether Americans would call it a 'reset'."
He's referring to efforts made in U.S. President Barack Obama's first term to improve ties with Moscow...
...when then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presented Lavrov with a red "reset" button, intended to signal a fresh start.
But relations have only deteriorated.
Both Washington and Brussels accuse Moscow of supporting a pro-Russian rebellion in east Ukraine -- and have imposed sanctions.
Lavrov denies the charge, but predicts relations will eventually improve.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYIN
