The top diplomats of Russia and the US, Sergey Lavrov and Mike Pompeo, had negotiated a total of three hours in Sochi, dealing with all world political issues - from Iran and Venezuela through Ukraine to North Korea.

Before the meeting Pompeo had already said what the reason for his visit to the Russian Black Sea city is: "I am here because President Trump wants to achieve an improvement of the relationship."

After that, it's clear that the US Secretary of State will find it difficult to sell his recent trip to his Russian Counterpart at Trump as a success. In almost all respects, mild to severe differences were revealed. The overview:

Iran

Iranian Presidency Office / AP

Iranian jet over Iranian flags

"We do not want to go to war with Iran," Pompeo said at the beginning. Why?

A year ago, the United States unilaterally canceled the nuclear deal designed to prevent Iran's nuclear weapons.

Then they imposed harsh sanctions, last they sent warships. And then came the news that there were considerations for up to 120,000 soldiers who could be transferred. For Pompeo signs of a "Iran policy consistent since the beginning of the Trump reign".

Lavrov initially went into the number of possible troop movements of 120,000. It is about "rumors, nothing else". The US urgently needs to find a political solution.

Russia, like Germany, France and the United Kingdom, is a partner state of the nuclear deal. Consequently, Lavrov said it was "a mistake to exit the nuclear agreement". On the subject, there are with the US just "many differences".

Venezuela

DPA

Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Pompeo's man in Caracas: Juan Guaidó

"There is disagreement in Venezuela," said Pompeo, and that is not to be expected. The US supports "just like 50 other countries" (Pompeo) - the outgoing parliamentary president Juan Guaidó and see him as the legitimate leader of the transition. "Nicolás Maduro has to go," Pompeo said again in Sochi. The Venezuelans should be allowed to appoint their president in "free and fair elections".

Russia, on the other hand, stands by Maduro, does not insist on interference and does not recognize Guaidó. "Threats from members of the US government" against Maduro have nothing to do with democracy, Lavrov said. The "Montevideo Mechanism" should work - and that would mean: Maduro is the president, Guaidó enters into a dialogue with the government about a political solution.

choice influences

Even though Trump repeatedly declared the issue of Russian electoral influence over, Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo warned Russia at the press conference in Sochi that he was clearly surprised by interference in US elections. It was "unacceptable, and should try Russia in the 2020 election, it would worsen our relationship again."

REUTERS

Lavrov sees Mueller report as relief for Russia

Lavrov reacted irritably. "Hidden hints about 'collusion'" have turned out to be "forgeries", as the Mueller report shows. And on the election 2016: "The facts tell us that there is no proof."

He hopes both sides can now "talk like adults again". And then Lavrov accused the US of influencing Russia. There are congressional funds, 20 million dollars, for the "Promotion of democracy in Russia by NGOs". Such "negative activities" would have to be stopped.

Ukraine

AP

Russian soldiers in the Crimea (2014): Lavrov speaks of "intra-Ukrainian crisis"

Again, no movement. Pompeo condemned the "attempt to annex Russian Crimea" and called for the release of Ukrainian seamen arrested by Russian forces. Russia should show goodwill, and seek talks with the new Ukrainian President Volodomir Selenskiy.

Lavrov made a slim reference to the Minsk agreement to settle the Ukraine crisis, to UN resolutions and stated that everything that happens in Ukraine is an "intra-Ukrainian conflict" that the new government must solve.