Russia and US Hold Phone Talks Ahead of Ukraine Negotiations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, on Sunday evening (1/6/25), ahead of the upcoming negotiations in Istanbul, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussion primarily focused on the situation tied to the Ukrainian crisis. “They exchanged views on various initiatives aimed at achieving a political resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, particularly regarding plans to restart direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2,” the ministry stated. This phone call comes after several previous conversations between Lavrov and Rubio over the past weeks. During this latest call, Rubio expressed his sincere condolences for the innocent victims of the recent railway accidents caused by the collapse of two bridges in Russia. At least seven people were killed and 69 injured in these incidents, which are currently under investigation as potential terrorist acts. The bridges were located in the Kursk and Bryansk regions near the Ukrainian border, though no evidence currently links Kyiv to the events. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that authorities are conducting a thorough investigation, assuring that those responsible will be found and punished accordingly.