ISTANBUL, October 22. /TASS/. Normalizing Russia’s relations with the United States and Europe is contingent upon the removal of absolutely all sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the 19th Verona Eurasian Economic Forum.

"We can start fresh with the US. We can move past this story [of sanctions], but, in order to forget it, the United States and Western Europe need to lift absolutely all sanctions. It is impossible to develop relations if we are navigating a minefield, not knowing where it will detonate, or where these sanctions will be applied," the Russian diplomat said.