Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conferred on the Ukraine situation and the removal of unilateral barriers set by the previous U.S. administration, as reported by Moscow.
These discussions aimed at ending Moscow's isolation after U.S. President Biden rallied European allies against Russian President Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed that Kyiv had not been included in the talks in Saudi Arabia and would consult with strategic partners before engaging with Russia.
Initiated by the U.S., the call between Lavrov and Rubio focused on the resolution of issues in bilateral relations to facilitate mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation, following on from previous barriers.
The specific barriers addressed were not immediately disclosed.
Post the Ukrainian invasion three years ago, the U.S. under then-President Joe Biden and its allies imposed sanctions to weaken the Russian economy and curb Kremlin's military actions.
The confirmation of Trump's commitment to resolving the Ukrainian conflict was reiterated by Rubio in the call, with talks also touching on potential collaborations on various bilateral matters.
The interaction between Rubio and Lavrov underscored their readiness to address crucial international matters, including the Ukraine conflict, Middle East dynamics, and fostering a respectful dialogue in line with directives from the presidents.
Following on from a direct conversation between Trump and Putin, Lavrov and Rubio also addressed enhancing conditions for Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S., aiming to quickly remove obstacles for both countries' missions abroad through forthcoming expert engagements.