International security

Visits by top U.S officials give Russia something to crow about

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed the United States’ help and noted Monday that the countries found “common denominators” during Kerry’s visit last week, according to comments posted on the Foreign Ministry’s Web site. He also acknowledged that “we do have something to ask” of the rebels “in terms of a more thorough compliance with the cease-fire, although the bulk of provocations comes from the Ukrainian authorities.”