Lavrov tells Rubio of preparations for new round of Russia-Ukraine talks, Foreign Ministry says

May 28 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday about the preparation of "concrete proposals" for a new round of direct talks with Kyiv, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

A statement on the ministry's website said Lavrov told Rubio about the implementation of agreements between the Russian and U.S. presidents during their telephone call a week ago "and preparations by the Russian side of concrete proposals for the next round of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul."

Lavrov earlier said Russia was proposing that the next round of direct talks take place in Istanbul on June 2 with a view to achieving a sustainable peace settlement.