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There was no preliminary bilateral preparation for Riyadh meeting — Lavrov

"Of course, each team prepared - ours in the Foreign Ministry, theirs in the Department of State," Russian Foreign Minister clarified

MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The Russian and US teams prepared for the February meeting in Riyadh only at home, there was no preparation in a bilateral format, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Krasnaya Zvezda.

"We flew there (to Riyadh - TASS) three days after the telephone conversation (between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump - TASS). Therefore, there was no preparation," he said. "I mean bilateral [preliminary preparations]. Of course, each team prepared - ours in the Foreign Ministry, theirs in the Department of State," Lavrov clarified.

"We all proceeded from the premise that it was not Trump who broke off relations, but [former US President] Joe Biden, but this is one country," the Russian minister said. In his opinion, "Trump was well aware of this and called [Putin] himself."

"Before that, literally the day before, he sent his close adviser to Russia for a detailed conversation. Then, during a telephone conversation, at his suggestion, we agreed to meet in Riyadh," Lavrov said.

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