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Lavrov, Rubio Discuss Removal of ‘Barriers’ Set by Previous US Administration, Russia Says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Sudanese counterpart addresses a press conference during a meeting in Moscow, on February 12, 2025. (AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Sudanese counterpart addresses a press conference during a meeting in Moscow, on February 12, 2025. (AFP)
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Lavrov, Rubio Discuss Removal of ‘Barriers’ Set by Previous US Administration, Russia Says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Sudanese counterpart addresses a press conference during a meeting in Moscow, on February 12, 2025. (AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Sudanese counterpart addresses a press conference during a meeting in Moscow, on February 12, 2025. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the situation in Ukraine on Saturday, as well as the removal of "unilateral barriers" set by the previous US administration, Moscow said.

US and Russian officials are to start talks in the coming days on ending Moscow's war in Ukraine after US President Donald Trump shocked European allies by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin and declaring an immediate start to the talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Kyiv would not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners.

Lavrov and Rubio, in a call initiated by the US, agreed to maintain contacts to resolve problems in bilateral relations, "in the interests of removing the unilateral barriers to mutually beneficial trade, economic and investment cooperation inherited from the previous administration," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear what barriers were discussed.

The US under then-President Joe Biden and Kyiv's allies around the world imposed waves of sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine three years ago, aimed at weakening the Russian economy and limiting the Kremlin's war efforts.

The US State Department said Rubio reaffirmed in the call Trump's commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

"In addition, they discussed the opportunity to potentially work together on a number of other bilateral issues," it said in a statement, without providing further detail.

Russia said Lavrov and Rubio "expressed their mutual willingness to interact on pressing international issues, including the settlement around Ukraine, the situation around Palestine and in general in the Middle East in general".

They agreed to work on restoring "mutually respectful interstate dialogue" in line with the tone set by the presidents, the ministry said.

Trump and Putin spoke for over an hour on Wednesday, the first known direct contact between US and Russian presidents since Putin had a call with Biden shortly before ordering tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The Russian foreign ministry said Lavrov and Rubio also discussed how to quickly improve "the conditions for the functioning of Russian diplomatic missions" in the US.

Experts will meet soon "to agree on specific steps to mutually remove obstacles to the work of Russian and US missions abroad," the ministry said.

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Kremlin Rejects Charge It Did Little to Help Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C, back) attends a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C, front) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 June 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C, back) attends a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C, front) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 June 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
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Kremlin Rejects Charge It Did Little to Help Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C, back) attends a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C, front) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 June 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C, back) attends a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C, front) at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 June 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL

The Kremlin on Tuesday pushed back against criticism that it had not done enough to back Iran, saying it had taken a "clear position" by condemning US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

President Vladimir Putin has condemned what he called "unjustified" US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, with which he signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. He said on Monday that Russia would try to help the Iranian people, although he gave no specifics.

Iranian sources told Reuters earlier this week that Tehran had not been impressed with Russia's support so far.

Asked about comparisons to the toppling last year of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, when Moscow refused to send troops or more air power to keep its ally in power, the Kremlin said some people were trying to spoil the Russian-Iranian partnership.

"Russia actually supported Iran with its clear position," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had appreciated Moscow's stance when he met Putin on Monday.

It was still too early to assess the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, Peskov said.

"Some information is coming through the appropriate channels, but it is still too early," Peskov said. "Hardly anyone has a clear understanding right now."

Asked about a Reuters report that Araghchi had brought a letter to Putin from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Peskov said there had been no written document handed over.

"The fact that there were certain messages from the Iranian leadership is true. But this Reuters report is not true," Peskov said.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region.

"If it has really been possible to achieve a ceasefire, then this can only be welcomed," Peskov said, adding that Qatar had helped to broker the ceasefire.

"This is what the Russian Federation has been calling for since the very beginning of this conflict. Therefore, yes, this can and should be welcomed, and we hope that this will be a sustainable ceasefire."