SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, it has been a difficult year with Russia.

"we have made it clear that the keystone is really Ukraine"

"QUESTION: Let’s talk about Russia. You came in, the President wanted a better relationship. It’s been a tough year. What do you see the flashpoints next year?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, it has been a difficult year with Russia. We clearly – and I’ve said clearly, the President’s stated clearly – our two nations should have a more productive relationship. Today, it’s very strained, for all the reasons that I think the American people well understand. Having said that, we have maintained a constant engagement with Russia, very active engagement. The President’s had two face-to-face meetings with President Putin, and he’s had phone calls with him as well. I have a very active line of communication, as does DOD, with Russian counterparts.

QUESTION: But I hear you’re very – when you’re with Foreign Minister Lavrov, you’re pretty tough.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, we’re – he’s pretty tough, and I’m pretty tough, but I think this is – it’s important if we’re going to deal with these tough issues, we have to be very open and candid and frank with one another about what both of us – and I think Foreign Minister Lavrov is as committed to trying to improve this relationship as I am. These are difficult issues, and we have made it clear that the keystone is really Ukraine.

QUESTION: Right.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: We have to make progress in Ukraine. Having said that, we have found areas of cooperation in Syria that have led to the near defeat of ISIS in Syria. The U.S., along with the Iraqi forces, has completely defeated ISIS in Iraq. And now, it’s how do we stabilize and chart the path forward for a stable Syria so that it does not present opportunities for ISIS to re-emerge, or other terrorist organizations.

QUESTION: President Trump said that this whole Russia investigation has been a kind of drag on your foreign policy, that it hurts you with allies, that there is a lot of confusion. Has – how has that impacted your dealings with world leaders in terms of this cloud, if you will?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: It has had no impact. And I say that --

QUESTION: Really?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: It’s had none. It never comes up in our conversations or in my bilats or in my dialogues with world leaders elsewhere. The domestic issues in – around the Russia involvement in our elections are not part of our dialogue elsewhere. I think the rest of the world recognizes it is a domestic issue, it’s an important one. The Russians and we talk about it, and we have said to them, look, it’s a problem.

QUESTION: Do you think they’re going to try to meddle in 2018?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: I don’t know. I hope they don’t.

QUESTION: Do you have evidence that they are?

SECRETARY TILLERSON: We have none yet. But we do know that Russia has involved themselves in other elections --

QUESTION: Right.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: -- in Europe and elsewhere. So it’s – it is a message we convey to the Russians. The way I convey it is I don’t understand why you do this. I don’t understand what you think you’re getting for this. Because it’s not evident to me as to how is this benefiting you --

QUESTION: Well, chaos --

SECRETARY TILLERSON: Well, it’s --

QUESTION: Chaos in the United States benefits them.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: How is it damaging – but it damages Russia, because we’re not making progress --

QUESTION: Sure.

SECRETARY TILLERSON: -- and they’re not making progress with others. So we try to stay focused on the really big issues between us, which is Syria and the situation there, the situation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and creating stability in Eastern Europe, and recognize what Russia’s concerns are. And we have very important talks coming up on the START Treaty and the INF Treaty, as well."

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