MOSCOW (Reuters) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the Ukraine conflict and the removal of U.S. trade and economic restrictions imposed by the previous administration, Moscow announced on Saturday.
U.S. and Russia to Begin Talks on Ukraine Conflict
The discussion comes as U.S. and Russian officials prepare for negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to initiate direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed frustration over his country’s exclusion from the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia. “Kyiv will not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners,” Zelenskiy stated on Friday.
Efforts to Restore U.S.-Russia Relations
According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, the call, initiated by the U.S., focused on:
✅ Eliminating trade and investment barriers inherited from the previous administration
✅ Potential collaboration on key bilateral issues
✅ Addressing diplomatic challenges between both nations
While details of the barriers discussed were unclear, both sides expressed willingness to strengthen dialogue on global issues, including:
✔ The Ukraine crisis
✔ The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
✔ Middle East stability
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov and Rubio agreed to work on restoring a “mutually respectful interstate dialogue” based on the direct engagement between Trump and Putin.
Diplomatic Missions and Sanctions Relief
The two leaders also explored ways to improve conditions for Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S. and vice versa. Expert delegations are set to meet soon to “agree on specific steps to remove obstacles” affecting embassy operations.
The U.S. imposed waves of sanctions on Russia under then-President Joe Biden in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, aiming to weaken Russia’s economy and limit its war efforts.
During the call, Rubio reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to finding a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, according to the U.S. State Department.
What’s Next?
With Trump and Putin engaging directly, U.S.-Russia relations appear to be entering a new phase of diplomacy. However, questions remain:
- Will Ukraine be included in the negotiations?
- What barriers will be lifted?
- Can diplomatic efforts lead to a long-term ceasefire?
