MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev held a telephone conversation with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. According to the press service of the Security Council, the conversation took place on Wednesday at the initiative of the US side.

Particular attention in the conversation was paid to the situation around Ukraine. "Russia's position on the inadmissibility of attempts to drag out the negotiation process undertaken by Kiev on instructions from outside was conveyed to Washington," the press service said.

It is noted that Patrushev urged Washington to use its leverage on Kiev to achieve progress in resolving the crisis in a diplomatic way as soon as possible.

"In addition, the secretary of the Russian Security Council emphasized the need to stop Washington's support of neo-Nazis and terrorists in Ukraine and facilitate the transfer of foreign mercenaries to the conflict zone, as well as refuse to continue supplying weapons to the Kiev regime," the Russian Security Council added. "It is noted that these steps will only lead to further escalation."

Patrushev also spoke about the activities of US-controlled military and biological facilities on Ukrainian soil and Washington's compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, as well as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction. "The US side was told that it was inadmissible to plan and incite provocations related to the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, in Ukraine," the statement said.

The Russian Security Council noted that the proposal of the US side to continue contacts was supported.