Foreign Secretary bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister

21 Sep 2016 01:03 AM

Ministers discussed the Syria crisis and conflict in Ukraine.

A Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday: “The Foreign Secretary met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier today on the margins of the UNGA meeting in New York, their first face-to-face meeting since Boris Johnson was appointed.

“The ministers discussed the crisis in Syria and the increase in violence in recent days, including the recent unacceptable attack on an aid convoy. The Foreign Secretary pressed for Russia to use its influence constructively and underlined the need for the international community to work together to resolve the conflict.

“Mr Johnson also raised the situation in Ukraine, where there are continued violations of the Minsk agreements, and stressed the need for a sustainable ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine.

“The Foreign Secretary was clear that while ongoing disagreements mean it is too early to normalise diplomatic relations, it is right that both countries continue to discuss important global issues.”