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Lavrov and Rubio hold phone call Lavrov and Rubio hold phone call
(32 minutes later)
Russia’s foreign minister and the US Secretary of State agreed to maintain regular contacts, including preparations for a meeting between Putin and TrumpRussia’s foreign minister and the US Secretary of State agreed to maintain regular contacts, including preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. The top diplomats agreed to hold regular contacts, including coordinating preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. The top diplomats agreed to hold regular contacts, including coordinating preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump.
The call comes just days after Putin and Trump held a phone conversation, marking the first known direct interaction between leaders of the two nations since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The two presidents agreed to continue dialogue, arrange an in-person meeting in a third country and make reciprocal visits going forward. The call comes just days after Putin and Trump held a phone conversation, marking the first known direct interaction between leaders of the two nations since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Hours after the phone call on Wednesday, Trump told journalists at the White House that the talks would take place in Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Rubio reaffirmed their readiness to work together on restoring a mutually respectful interstate dialogue between the two countries. The top diplomats agreed to hold “regular contacts, including on preparing a Russian-American meeting at the top level.” Trump also contacted Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, after which he announced that Kiev is prepared to seek an end to the conflict with Russia.
Russia and the US will organize a meeting of experts in the near future to remove obstacles to the proper functioning of diplomatic missions. According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Rubio reaffirmed their readiness to work together on restoring a mutually respectful interstate dialogue. The top diplomats agreed to hold regular contacts, "including on preparing a Russian-American meeting at the top level.”
The two men also undertook to arrange a meeting in the nearest future involving relevant experts to find ways out of the diplomatic deadlock of recent years that has seen Russian and US diplomatic missions severely curtailed as a result of tit-for-tat expulsions and closures of consulates.   
The Russian side reported that Lavrov and Rubio discussed the Ukraine conflict and the situation in Gaza.
Senior US officials, including Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, will reportedly head to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to kick off peace talks involving Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. Major European powers are not expected to participate, according to Politico, citing its sources on Saturday.
During his presidential campaign Trump repeatedly promised to swiftly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since entering office last month, the Republican has taken a starkly different approach to his predecessor Joe Biden. 
The US president claims he understands Russia’s concerns about Ukraine joining NATO and has stated that Kiev would not become part of the bloc under any settlement.
Russia has repeatedly said that it remains open to negotiations but has insisted that key issues, such as Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, must be resolved.