Russia urges U.S. to stop anti-Russia media campaign

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that the U.S. should stop its anti-Russia campaign in the Western media.

"Lavrov drew attention to the need to end the U.S.-fueled deliberate media anti-Russia campaign in the West, which by no means facilitates engagement in areas presenting a common interest," an online Foreign Ministry press release said.

The ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier in the day refuted remarks made by U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on the need to exert pressure on Russia and contain Russia in Europe.

"Such approaches, based on the logic of unjustified criticism of Russia, constant and unfounded attempts to present us as an enemy, are absolutely unacceptable," Zakharova said.

Lavrov and Kerry discussed various international issues during the phone conversation.

The two sides stressed the need to continue strengthening Russia-U.S. military coordination aimed at assisting the implementation of the ceasefire regime in Syria and ensuring access of humanitarian aid to people in besieged areas.

They also hoped the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, scheduled for March 14, could strictly comply with the requirements of inclusiveness and ensure the interests of all ethnic and religious groups.

Lavrov and Kerry also touched upon Yemen conflicts, implementation of the Minsk agreements to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, as well as issues of bilateral relations.

Russia and the United States, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, on Feb. 22 signed an agreement establishing ceasefire in Syria, which became effective at midnight of Feb. 26 and was accepted by the Syrian government as well as a range of opposition groups.

Moscow and Washington have kept regular communications over the situation in Syria to monitor the ceasefire regime and help push forward the political settlement process in the war-torn country. Enditem