Rubio, Lavrov discuss West Asia war, Ukraine strikes, bilateral ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the war in West Asia and Russia’s latest attacks in Ukraine in a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the State Department said on Monday, May 25.

Lavrov informed Rubio that Russian strikes were launched in retaliation to “continuing terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime against the peaceful population and civilian sites on Russian territory”.

The phone call was held as requested by Lavrov, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties.

Signalling further strikes, the Russian minister also highlighted that the US evacuate their diplomatic mission and citizens in Kyiv.

He reportedly also said that Russia’s armed forces “are ​starting systematic ​strikes ⁠on facilities located in Kyiv that are ​used for the ​needs ⁠of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as ⁠on ​centres where the ​corresponding decisions are being made”.

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