Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu chairs a meeting on Syria at the Defence Ministry in Moscow, Russia, in this picture released on July 28, 2016. Vadim Savitsky/Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday Russia was prepared to improve ties with the Pentagon, but warned this could not happen if the United States seeks to cooperate from a “position of strength,” news agency TASS reported.

“We are ready to resume cooperation with the Pentagon, but attempts to build a dialogue with Russia from a position of strength would be futile,” Shoigu was quoted as saying.

“We expect clarification on the position of the Pentagon.”