US, Russian top diplomats discuss war in Ukraine, bilateral ties

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday to discuss the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations.

The call came just days after US President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

Rubio reaffirmed Trump's commitment to ending the war, and the two discussed potential areas for bilateral cooperation, according to a readout of the conversation released by State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce.

In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the call was made at Washington's request, and both ministers agreed to establish a communication channel to address ongoing disputes in US-Russia relations.

The discussion covered a wide range of issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and Palestine, with both sides expressing a willingness to explore cooperation, according to a ministry statement.

It noted that experts from both nations would meet soon to address the issue of restrictions on diplomatic missions.

Lavrov and Rubio confirmed their willingness to resume dialogue and agreed to continue discussions about a possible US-Russia summit.