U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need to prevent further hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan during a meeting on Monday in New York with the two countries' foreign ministers, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.

Price described the meeting as the "first direct talks since recent fighting" between the two sides, adding that the leaders "discussed next steps, and (Blinken) encouraged the sides to meet again before the end of the month."