Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov appeared in disbelief upon hearing the news that Donald Trump had fired James Comey, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who was leading an investigation into allegations of Russian involvement in influencing the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election.
"Was he fired? You are kidding! You are kidding!" the visiting Russian FM shouted, looking exasperated at a reporter's question about Comey during a joint press briefing with Rex Tillerson, US Secretary of State, on Wednesday in Washington, a video clip by MSNBC showed.
A MSNBC reporter fired the question at the end of the media briefing, asking if Comey's sacking would cast any shadow on talks between the two diplomats. Apart from Lavrov's comments, neither official gave an answer before leaving for their meeting.
President Trump is also scheduled to meet Lavrov following the Russian top diplomat’s talks with Tillerson. This is Lavrov’s first visit to Washington in years, after relations between the two countries soured over Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.
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