On May 5, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov engaged in a phone conversation, as confirmed by both the U.S. State Department and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussion was initiated at the request of the Russian side, according to a statement from U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The two officials addressed various topics, including the state of U.S.-Russia relations, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and issues concerning Iran.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the minister’s request. They discussed U.S.-Russia relations, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Iran,” the statement read.
In its confirmation of the call, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not mention the war in Ukraine. Instead, it characterized the conversation as a “clock synchronization” regarding current international affairs and U.S.-Russian relations, while also discussing the schedule for future bilateral contacts. The Russian side described the dialogue as constructive and businesslike.
Prior to this call, the last trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. took place in Geneva on February 17-18. These discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanics of potential resolutions.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff remarked on the “significant progress” made during the first day of talks in Geneva. He noted that both parties agreed to provide updated information to their leaders and continue efforts toward achieving a peace agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the negotiations had yielded a degree of “constructiveness” regarding the monitoring of ceasefire agreements, with the U.S. committed to participating in this process.
The recent phone call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts amid tensions over the Ukraine conflict. Both sides addressed various international issues, indicating a desire to maintain dialogue despite existing challenges.