WASHINGTON (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden is defending U.S. efforts to cooperate with Russia on Iran and other issues at the same time Obama administration is trying to punish Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.
Biden says it makes sense to cooperate on areas where the U.S. and Russia have “clear mutual interest.” He says those issues include negotiations to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and finding a resolution to Syria’s civil war.
Biden says the U.S. and Europe will continue looking for “off ramps” to get Russian President Vladimir Putin (POO’-tihn) to stop what the West sees as his aggressive actions in Ukraine.
Biden says the U.S. is not seeking “regime change” in Russia, but wants Putin to act more rationally.
Biden spoke at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.