According to the Council statement, Russia’s stance on the inadmissibility of attempts to drag out negotiation process undertaken by Kyiv on instructions from abroad was conveyed to Washington.

Mr. Patrushev urged Mr. Sullivan to exert influence on Kyiv to reach early progress in solving present crisis through diplomacy.

He also spoke about the need to halt US support for neo-Nazis and terrorists in Ukraine and not to ease transfer of foreign mercenaries to the conflict zone, as well as to refuse to continue supplying weapons to Kyiv.

Russia strongly believes that such steps will only lead to further escalation, the statement said.

During the phone conversation, Mr. Patrushev expressed Russia’s deep concern over the activities of US-controlled military and biological facilities on Ukrainian territory.

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