A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:
The Foreign Secretary met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm on 2 December. The Foreign Secretary expressed concern about rising tensions across Europe, and re-stated the UK’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging the Russian government to de-escalate the situation.
The ministers also discussed the situation in Belarus, and the Foreign Secretary urged Foreign Minister Lavrov to use Russia’s position of influence to encourage the Lukashenko regime to enter talks with opposition leaders, mediated by the OSCE.
On wider issues, the ministers discussed the importance of Iran resuming nuclear talks, and for the international community to take urgent, coordinated action to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. The ministers welcomed the recent call between the Prime Minister and President Putin, and the Foreign Secretary hoped to continue frank and productive discussions between the two countries on these critical issues to protect peace and stability.
