Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meet on the sidelines of a presidential summit between Russia and the United States held at the Presidential Palace.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed recent U.S. sanctions against Moscow and challenges in Syria's war in a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday, a State Department spokeswoman said.



"Secretary Pompeo reiterated that the United States seeks an improved relationship with Russia and agreed to future dialogue," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

It was their first phone call since Washington said on Wednesday it would impose fresh sanctions on Moscow for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain in March.