"We are willing to work in a constructive manner, but we will firmly defend our interests," Ryabkov said in an interview with the Russian media.
"Only with all interests taken into account can we find their balance and a compromise that will be for the benefit of the international system, as well as regional and global security," he was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
Ryabkov paid tribute to the bilateral interaction on Iran, Afghanistan and arms control, saying his country remains deeply committed to this cooperation despite the fluctuations in the U.S. political situation.
Moscow is interested in an upward growth of Russian-U.S. relations, the diplomat said. However, "the question now is what choice the U.S. will make."
"In recent days we have heard a number of serious statements from the U.S. officials, who question many aspects of our relations. The tone of U.S. statements is also alarming," said Ryabkov.
The situation in South Ossetian and the Russian steps to guarantee security of the region and its citizens "are misunderstood in Washington and given distorted interpretations," he said.
Already under strain due to the recent clashes in South Ossetia, and Poland's signing of a deal to allow the deployment of U.S. missile shield on its soil, tensions between Russia and the United States have further escalated since Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions of Georgia.
