Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two leaders agreed to urge North Korea to strictly comply with the demands of the UN Security Council. Lavrov warned the US of the possibility of increased tensions when Washington makes threats. He noted North Korea’s new willingness to participate in negotiations and called for settling disputes by diplomatic means.

Lavrov and Tillerson agreed that the Syrian people alone have the right to decide their country’s future. They then discussed Russia’s role in ensuring that Damacus plays a constructive role in the peace negotiations in Geneva.