Lavrov recalled the warm gesture of former US Secretary of State Albright

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recalled how former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright invited him to smoke in the library of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. He said this on April 18 at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.

"I remember her fondly, she always invited me to the library, where there was an ashtray and cigarettes. Says: "I know you smoke, please." This is also such a human gesture, you know," Lavrov said.

The diplomat added that this happened in the 1990s, when Lavrov and Albright worked together as representatives of their countries at the UN.

In a single gap: Trump communicates with Europeans almost three times less often than Biden

Disagreements with Washington are already forcing EU leaders to look towards China.

Lavrov said earlier in the day that Russia has accumulated many disagreements with the current American administration, especially on bilateral issues and sanctions policy. The minister added that a conversation has matured about how Americans see the future of economic relations between the two countries.