WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2018) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Slovenian Foreign Minister Miro Cerar met to discuss a range of bilateral issues in addition to Russia sanctions and NATO defense spending, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said in a press release.
"They also discussed global affairs, including Iran's ballistic missile program; advancing the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea; and the importance of maintaining sanctions on Russia," Palladino said after Friday's meeting at the State Department.
In addition, the two top diplomats agreed on the need "to ensure that the Western Balkans have a continued path to Western integration." The duo also discussed regional efforts to strengthen energy security, according to the spokesman.
The US government and its allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia related to the crisis in Ukraine, the reunification of Crimea, and alleged election meddling, among other issues. Moscow has repeatedly denied interfering in US or Ukrainian internal affairs.
