Meeting of Russian and American Foreign Ministers Ahead of UN Gathering

Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, met on September 18, just before the commencement of the UN General Assembly, to discuss 'Syria, Middle Eastern issues, and Ukraine.' The U.S. State Department had previously stated that Tillerson would go to the Russian delegation's headquarters at the UN for the meeting with Lavrov, scheduled for 9 PM (5:30 AM Tehran time). The Russian state news agency TASS confirmed the meeting, reporting that the two sides discussed for about 50 minutes behind closed doors. Shortly after the meeting, while Rex Tillerson left without speaking to reporters, both countries' foreign ministries issued statements regarding the details. The U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the two diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to reducing armed operations in Syria, decreasing violence, and creating a conducive environment for advancing peace negotiations in Geneva. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also mentioned that the ministers addressed the Syrian crisis, conflicts in Eastern Ukraine, and 'Middle Eastern-related issues.' Tillerson's visit comes after he had previously described U.S.-Russia relations as historically more strained than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Following new congressional sanctions against Moscow regarding issues like the Ukraine crisis and allegations of interference in U.S. elections, both countries have engaged in diplomatic responses, leading to a series of closures of centers and offices and a reduction in the number of diplomats in each other's cities and capitals. Despite the differences and what Tillerson described as a significant reduction in relations, Moscow and Washington have also raised the potential for cooperation in some areas, which could include the Syrian crisis and civil war, tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, tensions in Ukraine, and counter-terrorism efforts. Lavrov and Tillerson had a phone conversation two days prior, during which the topics of Ukraine and the establishment of safe zones in Syria were discussed. While Vladimir Putin did not travel to New York and thus will not be among the speakers at the UN headquarters, the Russian Foreign Minister is scheduled to speak at the gathering in three days. U.S. President Donald Trump will also address the 193 UN member states on September 19.