(Reuters) {- President Vladimir Putin greeted the new U.S. ambassador to Russia on Wednesday with a demand for Washington to treat Moscow as an equal partner and stay out of its internal affairs.}
The new envoy, John Tefft, said in a written statement after presenting his credentials that he wanted to strengthen “people-to-people” ties but there were serious differences over Ukraine.
Their comments underlined the chasm between the former Cold War enemies as Tefft succeeds Michael McFaul, who was behind President Barack Obama’s planned “reset” in relations with Russia and whose posting was marked by controversy and tension.
Putin met Tefft with a slight smile and they then stood stiffly beside each other posing for photographers during a Kremlin ceremony for new ambassadors.
“We are ready for practical cooperation with our American partners in different fields, based on the principles of respect for each others’ interests, equal rights and non-interference in internal matters,” Putin said in a short speech.
His remarks were blunt though less fierce than some of his earlier criticism of Washington, which he has accused of trying to dominate world affairs and suppress Russia.
The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Moscow following its annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and over its backing for separatists in the east opposed to Kiev’s rule.
In a statement issued after the ceremony, Tefft said he was committed to maintaining “open and frank lines of communication” with the Russian authorities
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