OREANDA-NEWS  The West was caught off guard by the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Sudan, which coincided with the long-planned trip of six EU and US ambassadors to the country, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the situation.

"The visit of six ambassadors from Europe and the United States to Sudan was planned for a long time, and negotiations on the same day with the participation of the Russian Foreign Minister caught Western capitals by surprise," the agency quoted unnamed sources as saying.

Earlier it was reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is visiting Mauritania, where on Wednesday he is scheduled to hold talks with President Mohammed Ould al-Sheikh al-Ghazouani and Foreign Minister Mohammed Salem Ould Merzoug. This is the first visit of a Russian minister to Mauritania since the establishment of diplomatic relations. Next, Lavrov will visit Sudan.