Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing key aspects of the political dialogue between the two countries, which has witnessed a significant intensification recently. The talks focused particularly on the Ukrainian crisis, with the two sides discussing ways to strengthen the preconditions that have begun to crystallize for the start of negotiations aimed at reaching a credible path to achieving a sustainable and long-term peace.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, these discussions followed the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Steve Wyckoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy, on April 25. The two ministers also exchanged views on a number of other international issues of common interest, stressing the importance of continuing communication and coordination at all levels during the next phase.