Dar es Salaam, Feb. 16 -- MOSCOW, Russia – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. According to Moscow, the two diplomats agreed to maintain regular contact in an effort to eventually lift unilateral sanctions that have hindered “mutually beneficial” economic cooperation.

The call came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation, marking their first known direct interaction since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to restoring a “mutually respectful dialogue” and add...