US secretary of state has told the BBC that the US will respond to reckless or aggressive acts by Russia.
Antony Blinken said the US was focused on actions such as the treatment of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, the Solar Winds hack and election interference.
“We would prefer a more stable and predictable relationship,” he said.
Mr Blinken was in the UK for a meeting of foreign ministers of the G7 group of industrialised nations.
A statement issued after the two-day talks criticised Moscow for its “irresponsible and destabilising behaviour”, particularly against Ukraine, and for cyber-attacks.
Mr Blinken echoed those sentiments on Thursday, offering support to Ukraine during talks in Kyiv with its President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said his country was under threat from Russian troops massed near its border.
The US and Russia have been long-term adversaries and remain far apart on major issues.
In February, US President Joe Biden said he had made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin “that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions [were] over”.
But Mr Biden’s predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, said during his presidential campaign that he would get along with Mr Putin. He sought to improve ties while in office, a stance at odds with traditional Republican party policy.
After the intrigue, phone calls and blackmail that dominated the Trump administration’s dealings with Ukraine – the presidency of Mr Biden was what many Ukrainians wanted. They are hoping for a steady and dependable ally.
Mr Trump was impeached in 2019 over allegations he improperly sought help from Ukraine to boost his chances of re-election. He was acquitted, but the saga certainly strained US-Ukraine relations.
Mr Blinken has promised to reinvigorate the relationship. He has been keen to stress that the US stood with Ukraine against Russian aggression, and has said that he is looking at ways of strengthening security co-operation.
To enhance its security, Ukraine would like to become a member of Nato – a military alliance of countries from Europe and North America. But there was little encouragement on that front, and Mr Blinken simply said that those aspirations had been discussed.
