Russia is ready to normalize relations with the United States and to cooperate on major global issues, Moscow's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Friday, July 28, according to Reuters.

Lavrov told Tillerson that Moscow's decision to cut U.S. diplomatic staff in Russia was prompted by "a number of Washington's hostile steps".

Lavrov and Tillerson "agreed to maintain contact on a range of bilateral issues", the Russian Foreign Ministry said in statement.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump intends to sign a bill that imposes sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, the White House said in a statement late on Friday.