Attempts to exert pressure on Moscow through sanctions 'pointless': Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has termed the attempts to exert pressure on Moscow through sanctions as 'pointless'.

"While assessing the prospects for bilateral dialogue, Sergey Lavrov pointed out that attempts to exert pressure on Russia through sanctions were pointless, though Washington once again used this tool on June 20," Tass quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement.

Lavrov in a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that such steps put Russian-US ties at serious risk, while bilateral relations are already going through a tough period.

He emphasised that Russia expects U.S. to respond to its proposals aimed at normalising bilateral relations between the two sides.

The ministry said that Russia had to postpone the meeting between a Russian deputy foreign minister and a US undersecretary of state in order to assess the current situation.

The meeting was scheduled to take place on June 23 to discuss issues concerning Russian-US.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow calls on U.S. to strictly abide by all the previously reached agreements concerning various aspects of the Syrian settlement.