Lavrov, Rubio Discuss Ukraine Peace Talks and Future U.S.-Russia Dialogue
Moscow, The Gulf Observer: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation on Saturday to discuss the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the prospects for future bilateral contacts between Moscow and Washington, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The call, which was initiated by the American side, followed recent peace negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations held in Istanbul the previous day. Both sides reportedly exchanged views on the outcomes of the talks, which aimed at finding common ground for a ceasefire and establishing frameworks for further dialogue.
“The heads of the foreign services exchanged views on the outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations held the previous day in Istanbul,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in its official statement.
During the conversation, Senator Rubio welcomed the mutual agreement reached on the exchange of prisoners of war and the decision by both Moscow and Kyiv to draft their respective proposals outlining the necessary conditions for a sustainable ceasefire. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict and fostering regional stability.
According to the ministry, Minister Lavrov acknowledged the constructive role played by the United States in facilitating Ukraine’s eventual acceptance of President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume the Istanbul-format peace talks. Lavrov also confirmed Russia’s willingness to continue cooperating with the United States toward a negotiated settlement.
“Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the U.S. positive role in helping secure Kyiv’s eventual acceptance of President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to resume the Istanbul talks. He confirmed Moscow’s readiness to continue working jointly with American counterparts in this context,” the statement read.
In addition to the Ukraine crisis, the two sides discussed a number of international and regional issues, as well as the possibility of holding further high-level Russian-American contacts in the near future.
The dialogue between Lavrov and Rubio comes amid renewed international attention to the Istanbul peace track, with observers expressing cautious optimism about the potential for de-escalation and long-term conflict resolution.
