‘Productive’ 1st meeting: Lavrov & Tillerson discuss Syria & Ukraine, but not sanctions

February 16, 2017 at 12:11

Earlier comments from the Russian Foreign Ministry suggested that Syria and sensitive bilateral issues would be discussed at the meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his first meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was productive, stressing that Moscow is ready to work with Washington on all issues as soon as Donald Trump’s foreign policy team is fully formed.

Lavrov and Tillerson talked at a G20 summit in Germany. It was the pair’s first meeting since Tillerson became Secretary of State, and came as a possible Russia-US rapprochement is in the spotlight.

“As soon as the teams in the State Department and the relevant agencies are formed, we expressed readiness to establish contacts,” Lavrov told journalists at the G20 summit in Bonn, Germany.

During his meeting with Tillerson, the situations in Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine was discussed, the FM said.

“On all those issues, our American colleagues said they’re interested in joining the efforts that are made to overcome those conflicts,” he stressed.

The sides “confirmed mutual interest, coinciding interests, first of all regarding the outright battle against terrorism and the political settlement in Syria,” as well as cooperation on other nations in the region “where terrorism took root,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov meets with US Secretary of State Tillerson in Germany https://t.co/HGtXiPsfkP pic.twitter.com/4LtaUVy2S0
— RT (@RT_com) February 16, 2017

According to Lavrov, Washington’s sanctions against Moscow were not discussed during the meeting.

Lavrov again called the decision by the Obama administration to put restrictions on Russia “abnormal.”

As for a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, “the two presidents will meet when they decide that it’s the right time,” the FM said.

Lavrov also emphasized that current developments in Washington are US domestic affairs, in which Moscow has no interest in meddling.

"One should understand that we don't interfere in other nations' domestic affairs," he told reporters when asked if "turbulence" in the American capital has ramifications for US-Russia relations.

?? FM #Lavrov speaking to journos after first meeting with new ?? Sec State #Tillerson overall "productive" but some issues remain. pic.twitter.com/Bc7rwI3F0w
— Peter George Oliver (@PeterGOliver_RT) February 16, 2017