Atlanta:Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reported on Friday that he engaged in a "not bad, though brief, conversation" with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Lavrov stated at a news conference that their discussions covered relations and cooperation in various multilateral forums, such as the UN, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He expressed that the US's willingness to maintain dialogue with Russia was welcome and emphasized the importance of pursuing mutually beneficial projects while avoiding confrontational disagreements.

Lavrov highlighted a diesel fuel deal between Russia and the US, defending it amidst criticism from the US Congress, and warned against interpreting it as a breakthrough in bilateral relations due to ongoing US sanctions against Russia. He also criticized the continued US military assistance to Ukraine and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, noting the lack of real progress in relations.

Moreover, Lavrov supported the US presidency's efforts to depoliticize G20 discussions, focusing on the group's agreed agenda. He praised the US for its openness in discussing issues such as geopolitics' impact on the economy, energy, food security, and supply chains, though he noted uncertainty about the reflection of these discussions in final documents.

When questioned about a potential meeting between the Russian, US, and Chinese leaders at the upcoming APEC summit in China, Lavrov indicated a positive view from all three capitals, with China managing organizational details. The G20 meeting, hosted by Rubio, aims to address global economic challenges and geopolitical tensions, and it precedes the G20 leaders' summit scheduled for December 14-15 in Miami.