JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the United States delegation expressed a desire to establish normal relations with Russia when meeting with a Russian delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while Moscow is ready for serious negotiations.
The meeting of the delegations of the two countries lasted for 4.5 hours at one of the royal family's palaces, Al Diriyah, Albasateen Complex on February 18.
At that time, Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Adjutant President Yury Ushakov, and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev.
Meanwhile, the United States was represented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
"When we met, I hope I don't reveal any secrets, in Riyadh with (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio and (National Security Adviser Mike Waltz) Mike Waltz and (Special Entrance to the Middle East) Steve Witkoff, they said, look, we want normal relations in the sense that the basis of American foreign policy under Donald Trump's administration is of the United States' national interest," said Foreign Minister Lavrov in an interview with US blogger Mario Nawfal, Larry Johnson and Andrew Napolitano, quoted from TASS March 12.
According to him, at the same time, Americans "understand that other countries also have their national interests."
"And with countries that have national interests and do not play according to the interests of others, we are ready to have serious discussions," Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized.
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Talks in Riyadh were the first meeting between US and Russian officials to discuss how to stop Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two.
After the talks, Foreign Minister Rubio said Russia and the United States had agreed to restore diplomatic missions of each country in Moscow and Washington, to facilitate continued diplomatic engagement.
"We will need active work on diplomatic missions capable of functioning normally to be able to continue this contact," said Foreign Minister Rubio.
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