Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. AP Yonhap News. 

The top diplomats of the United States and Russia discussed preparations for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on the 20th (local time), the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone on the same day.

The Russian Foreign Ministry explained that the two ministers had a constructive discussion on concrete measures to implement the agreements reached during the phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin on the 16th.

The U.S. Department of State also confirmed through a press release from its deputy spokesperson that the two ministers discussed follow-up actions resulting from the phone call between the leaders of both countries.

Furthermore, the State Department stated that Secretary Pompeo emphasized during the call the importance of the upcoming U.S.-Russia summit as an opportunity for bilateral cooperation to advance a sustainable resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, in line with President Trump's vision.

Previously, Presidents Trump and Putin agreed in a phone call on the 16th to hold a summit in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss the Ukraine issue.

Specific details regarding the summit's schedule and agenda are expected to be determined through consultations between Foreign Minister Lavrov and Secretary Pompeo.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that he hopes the summit will provide an opportunity to discuss the Ukraine issue as well as bilateral relations.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, whose country is expected to host the U.S.-Russia summit, announced that he will visit Washington D.C. on the 21st. Minister Szijjártó is anticipated to hold working-level discussions with U.S. government officials in Washington regarding the preparations for the summit.

Yonhap News