On April 17, local time, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to deeply discuss issues related to the Ukraine crisis. According to a report from the Russian Foreign Ministry, this call took place during Rubio's visit to Paris, France, focusing mainly on recent bilateral consultations and multilateral interactions involving Ukraine.
During the call, Rubio informed Lavrov about his communications with representatives from Ukraine, France, and other European countries, alongside the U.S. Middle East envoy, Whitaker. These discussions covered topics from the earlier meeting between Russian President Putin and Whitaker in Saint Petersburg and the exchange of positions between the U.S. and Russia on the Ukraine issue.
According to the Russian statement, Lavrov clearly stated that Russia will continue engaging with the U.S. to address fundamental issues of the Ukraine crisis. He pointed out that resolving the conflict's roots is the key to lasting peace and expressed an open attitude toward further dialogue.
In its statement, the U.S. State Department revealed that during the call, Rubio emphasized that the U.S. has proposed a "framework for lasting peace" to relevant parties. This framework aims to facilitate multilateral negotiations to institutionally guarantee an end to the current conflict. The U.S. believes that as long as each party shows sincerity and is committed to reaching an agreement, achieving peace remains a possibility.
Both parties also agreed to keep direct communication channels between the U.S. and Russia open, in light of the upcoming new round of meetings between U.S. and multiple national representatives and Ukraine in the following week. This consensus is seen as a positive signal amid the ongoing conflict, suggesting that collaborative opportunities still exist on the diplomatic front.
This call injected a certain easing into the current tense international situation and is viewed as the latest demonstration of substantial coordination efforts between the U.S. and Russia on the Ukraine issue. Whether breakthroughs can be achieved based on the "peace framework" will depend on further negotiation progress and the political willingness of the multilateral participants.
