MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first phone conversation on Saturday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and economic restrictions imposed by the previous U.S. administration, according to Moscow.
The call comes as peace talks on Ukraine are set to begin in the coming days, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he called for an immediate negotiation process.
Initiated by Washington, the discussion focused on re-establishing “mutually respectful interstate dialogue” in line with directives from both leaders, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Lavrov and Rubio agreed to maintain regular contact to address challenges in bilateral relations and explore ways to eliminate trade and economic barriers inherited from the previous administration, the statement added. However, specific details about these restrictions were not disclosed.
“Both sides expressed a willingness to collaborate on pressing global issues, including the resolution of the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Middle East,” the statement noted.
Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. and its allies imposed multiple sanctions on Russia in response to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, aiming to weaken Moscow’s economy and disrupt its military operations.
Trump and Putin’s recent phone call, lasting over an hour, marked the first direct conversation between a U.S. and Russian president since Putin’s discussion with Biden just before launching the invasion.
Additionally, the Russian foreign ministry highlighted discussions on diplomatic relations, stating that Lavrov and Rubio addressed obstacles facing Russian missions in the U.S. and agreed to hold expert meetings soon to resolve these issues.
