MOSCOW (REUTERS) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation in Syria and Yemen as well as Ukraine with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The phone call was the latest in a string of high-level contacts between Moscow and Washington in recent days over the crises in the Middle East as well as Ukraine, a conflict that has dragged ties between the Cold War-era foes to new lows.

"The situation in Syria and Yemen, including efforts by the international community to facilitate the start of a peace process in both the 'hot spots', was the focus," the ministry said.