Pompeo warns Russia for interfering in 'domestic matters'

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday warned Russia of its interference in what he called "US domestic matters" if Moscow wanted to improve its relationship with Washington D.C.

In a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Pompeo stressed that the US was looking forward to sorting out its differences with Russia and wanted to improve their bilateral ties.

But he added that "achieving that (good relations) will require Russia to demonstrate that it is prepared to take concrete actions to address our concerns, including interfering in US domestic matters," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert was quoted by The Hill as saying.

The two leaders also discussed on Moscow's involvement in Syria and Ukraine.

The phone call came a day after the US ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Nikki Haley took a swipe at Russia for its "outrageous actions" in Ukraine and urged Moscow to return Crimea to Kiev.

"Until Russia ends its outrageous actions in Ukraine, the position of the United States will not waver. We condemn, in the strongest terms, Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine and its purported annexation of Crimea," Haley said at a UN Security Council meeting.

It is to be noted that relations between US and Russia are greatly strained due to the crisis in Ukraine, Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2015, differences regarding Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, and the alleged meddling of 2016 US presidential election.

Washington D.C. has repeatedly condemned Moscow's actions in Ukraine and have imposed sanctions over the same since 2014.