MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will pursue a constructive policy and will not be drawn into any confrontations in 2008, the foreign minister said on Saturday.

Speaking about plans and expectations of his ministry over the coming year, Sergei Lavrov said: "Whatever the situation, Russia won't be involved in any new confrontations, and will carry out a united foreign policy and promote constructive alternatives to resolve current problems."

Lavrov added that Russia is ready to interact with all partners on an equal basis and in the interests of joint task resolution.

The foreign minister said Russia intends to continue settling urgent international problems together with the UN, but did not rule out "failures in world politics" caused by "unilateral steps by some countries or associations of states, or their attempts to act beyond the framework of international law."