Russia's Lavrov tells U.S.'s Blinken: We should decide how to build relations

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde (not pictured) at the Harpa Concert Hall, on the sidelines of the Arctic Council Ministerial summit, in Reykjavik, Iceland, May 19, 2021. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the start of their meeting in Reykjavik on Wednesday that Moscow and Washington have to decide on their further cooperation as serious differences remain.

Lavrov, in the first meeting with the new U.S. secretary of State, said Russia and the United States have to cooperate in spheres where their interests meet.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as they arrive for a meeting at the Harpa Concert Hall, on the sidelines of the Arctic Council Ministerial summit, in Reykjavik, Iceland, May 19, 2021. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Leslie Adler)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as they arrive for a meeting at the Harpa Concert Hall, on the sidelines of the Arctic Council Ministerial summit, in Reykjavik, Iceland, May 19, 2021. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS