MOSCOW, August 23. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have discussed over the phone the situation in Syria and the schedule of upcoming contacts, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday.

"While exchanging views on pressing global issues, the main focus was on the situation in Syria," the ministry noted. "During the conversation, Lavrov stressed that the situation in the world requires our countries’ joint efforts to overcome common challenges and threats impeded by Washington’s destructive line to undermine relations between Russia and the US."

"The two top diplomats also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts," the ministry added.

The conversation was initiated by the American side.

Lavrov-Pompeo contacts

It is noteworthy that this is the second telephone conversation between the Russian foreign minister and the US secretary of state over the past two weeks. On August 10, Lavrov and Pompeo discussed over the phone a number of issues of mutual interest. At that time, the conversation was likewise initiated by Washington.

Reports about the upcoming meeting between Lavrov and Pompeo appeared in the media more than once. Their negotiations could be held on the sidelines of events of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Singapore in early August. However, the meeting did not take place at that time, and the parties agreed to work on other opportunities for a meeting.

The two top diplomats first met in Helsinki on July 16 as part of the Russian-US summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.