UPDATE - Bangladeshi premier calls for peaceful end to Ukraine war in meeting with Russian foreign minister

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS FROM BANGLADESHI PREMIER, CHANGES HEADLINE

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday called for a peaceful end to Russia's war in Ukraine.

During a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Hasina called for “finding a way to stop the Russia-Ukraine war through negotiations and a peaceful manner,” state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reported.

She made the call when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov paid a call on Hasina at the latter's official residence in Dhaka. Lavrov then left Dhaka for India to attend the G-20 summit.

The Russian foreign minister is the first high-profile official to visit to Bangladesh since the South Asian country’s independence in 1971.

Lavrov landed in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Thursday.

Russia was one of the major allies of Bangladesh during its war of independence.

Lavrov met Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday. In meeting with Russian top diplomat, Bangladeshi premier calls peaceful end to Ukraine war.