Rubio, Lavrov discuss Ukraine war, Iran in call requested by Moscow

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 5 in a call requested by Moscow, according to multiple reports citing the State Department.

The two discussed U.S.-Russia relations, the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran, the reports said. Russian state media and other outlets described the conversation as constructive, while the U.S. side did not release a substantive public readout beyond the topics discussed.

The call comes as Washington and Moscow remain at odds over the war in Ukraine and as Iran continues to figure in broader U.S. diplomatic and security calculations. The fact that the contact was initiated by Moscow underscores that direct communication between the two governments is still active even as tensions remain high.

So far, neither side has said the call produced any concrete outcome. The main immediate takeaway is that the two officials discussed several of the most sensitive issues in U.S.-Russia relations, but without signaling a breakthrough.

Further details could emerge if either government issues a fuller statement or if the call leads to follow-up contact.