Russian, Saudi Foreign Ministers Discuss Yemen Crisis

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed on Monday the situation in crisis-hit Yemen in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, stressing the urgency of an immediate ceasefire by all sides of the conflict.

"The ministers discussed pressing issues of the regional agenda, with the focus on the situation in Yemen," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in statement.

Yemen has been torn apart by a conflict between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to displaced Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is reportedly in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Last week, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launched a military offensive on Houthi positions in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and Aden, pushing the number of casualties past 500.

"The Russian side stressed the urgency of ceasefire by all sides of the conflict, including external players, as well as the need to revive internal dialogue under the UN aegis," the statement said.

The rising death toll and a worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen prompted Russia last week to call for a "humanitarian pause" in the Saudi-led air raids on militant targets. The UN Security Council confirmed receiving Russia's draft resolution to this effect, but said the 15-member council needed time to consider the proposal.