Lavrov, Kerry Discuss Ukraine, Yemen, Syria on Sidelines of Iran Talks

LAUSANNE (Sputnik) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry talked about the situation in Ukraine, as well as Yemen and Syria on the sidelines of the negotiations on the Iran nuclear issue in Lausanne, Kerry told RIA Novosti.

Kerry said he had a good discussion with Lavrov on the issues relating to Ukraine, Yemen and Syria.

Lavrov and Kerry held their bilateral meeting at a Swiss hotel on Sunday.

Answering a question about the outlook for the talks before the meeting, Sergei Lavrov told journalists that he is "not paid for being optimistic."

Earlier in the day, Lavrov held one-on-one talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The top Russian diplomat also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

All meetings are held within the framework of a new round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of international mediators, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany. They are aimed at making Tehran limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions that the West has imposed against Iran over fears that it could be developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program.

A political framework agreement with Iran is expected to be reached by March 31, while the deadline for a final agreement is set for the end of June, 2015.

On Saturday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the P5+1 and Tehran have started discussing the most complicated issues regarding the Iranian nuclear program, particularly the future of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.