This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
On September 27, 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the United Nations.
During a press conference, Lavrov expressed his disapproval of the US releasing transcripts of phone conversations between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"As for transcripts of phone conversations, my mother when bringing me up said that reading other people's letters is inappropriate," Lavrov said.
He added, "It is indecent. For two people elected by their nations to be at the helm, there are diplomatic manners that suppose a certain level of confidentiality."
Earlier that week, the White House released a summary of a July 25 call between Trump and Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The summary showed that Trump asked Zelensky to probe Democratic rival Joe Biden, and Democrats are investigating whether Trump used a delayed $400 million aid package as leverage.
Lavrov criticized both US lawmakers and media for the release of the transcript, saying, "Being so vociferous in saying that if you don't show a certain memo involving a partner, that you're going to bring this administration to its knees, what kind of democracy is that? How can you work in such conditions?"
Trump's relationship with Putin has been under intense scrutiny, with the US leader praising Putin and appearing to accept his denials of US intelligence's finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to benefit Trump.
However, an investigation led by former FBI chief Robert Mueller found no evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.
