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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was received by his US counterpart Mike Pompeo, but also by the president at the White House. The opportunity for the Trump administration to warn Moscow in case of attempted interference in the upcoming elections.
With our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet
As in 2017, Donald Trump received the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Oval Office away from the cameras. At the time, the US president, entangled in the investigation of Moscow's interference in his campaign, was accused of sharing confidential information with Sergei Lavrov during their meeting.
Concerns of further Moscow interference remain real for the upcoming elections, and the secretary of state warned his counterpart.
" About the interference in our home affairs, I was clear, that's unacceptable, " said Mike Pompeo. And I clearly explained our expectations to the Russians: the Trump administration will always work to protect the integrity of our elections, period. If Russia or any other foreign player took steps to undermine our democratic process, we would take retaliatory measures. "
But the Russian Foreign Minister has formally denied that he has intervened in any way in the 2016 elections and has denounced accusations " without proof ".
The previous day, a report by the Justice Ministry confirmed that the FBI investigation into Moscow's interferences with the campaign was based on trust information.