Moscow says Lavrov and Rubio held talks on Ukraine war
1. Two sides expressed their mutual willingness to interact on pressing international issues," says Moscow
MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first telephonic conversation on Saturday, discussing the situation in Ukraine and the "unilateral barriers" imposed by the previous US administration, Moscow announced.
Peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are set to begin in the coming days after US President Donald Trump surprised European allies by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week and declaring an immediate start to negotiations.
During Saturday's call, initiated by the US, Lavrov and Rubio agreed to work toward restoring a "mutually respectful interstate dialogue" in line with the tone set by their respective presidents, according to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry.
The two diplomats also committed to maintaining contact to address issues in bilateral relations and to remove "unilateral barriers" hindering trade, economic, and investment cooperation—barriers inherited from the previous administration. However, the statement did not specify which barriers were under discussion.
Both sides expressed a willingness to collaborate on pressing international matters, including resolving the Ukraine conflict and addressing the situation in the Middle East.
Under former President Joe Biden, the US and its allies imposed multiple sanctions on Moscow in response to its invasion of Ukraine three years ago, aiming to weaken Russia's economy and limit its war efforts.
Trump and Putin’s conversation on Wednesday marked the first known direct contact between US and Russian leaders since Putin’s call with Biden shortly before launching the invasion in February 2022.
Additionally, Lavrov and Rubio discussed conditions for Russian diplomatic missions in the US. The Russian foreign ministry stated that both sides agreed to arrange an expert-level meeting soon to determine steps for easing restrictions on diplomatic operations in both countries.
