US Vice President Joe Biden stressed the need for US-Russian cooperation, including over Syria, in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday, the White House said.
Biden, who met the Russian on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, said that while Washington and Moscow had “serious differences”, such as over a Russian ban on US adoptions, US-Russian leadership was crucial.
On Syria, the United States and its allies have made repeated calls for President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, while Russia, a key Damascus ally, has resisted any international action.
“The vice president emphasised the importance of the two countries working together in the interest of international peace and security, including in Syria,” a White House statement said.
Biden “noted that while the United States and Russia will continue to have serious differences — including, among other things, on human rights and Russia’s recent ban on US adoptions — US and Russian leadership is necessary to achieve practical solutions to the challenges facing the world today,” it added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill introducing a blanket ban on US adoptions in reprisal for US legislation that targets Russian officials who have allegedly committed rights abuses.
Also in Munich on Saturday, Lavrov held his first direct talks with Syrian opposition chief Moaz al-Khatib, Russian news reports quoted a diplomat as saying.
Biden urges Lavrov to put 'serious differences' aside
