Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with French Ambassador to Russia Pierre Lévy on Tuesday, May 18 to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the situation in the South Caucasus, the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Also Tuesday, Rudenko also met Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali. The sides exchanged views on regional matters, including on the Karabakh issue and the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province).