Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed possibilities for cooperation, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
"The Secretary noted that the United States sought a more stable and predictable relationship with Moscow," Price said in a readout.
The sides discussed Russia’s Arctic Council Chairmanship and the importance of cooperation given our shared stake in the region. Blinken told Lavrov that Russia should release American citizens Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed.
Secretary Blinken also raised "deep concerns" regarding Russia’s military deployments in and near Ukraine, the health of Aleksey Navalny and the repression of opposition organizations, among other issues.
"The Secretary underscored the imperative of ensuring humanitarian access for the people of Syria, while they also discussed regional issues, including finding a long-term political solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They also discussed areas in which both of our peoples could benefit from sustained and enhanced cooperation, including Afghanistan, strategic stability, and curbing Iran and the DPRK’s nuclear programs," the statement reads.
"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister committed to continued discussions going forward," Price concluded.
