US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the situation in Afghanistan with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday, the US State Department said, following media reports Russia offered money to militants to kill Americans in Afghanistan.

Russian bounties: Pompeo speaks with Russia's Lavrov about Afghanistan

A new advertisement in the United States has hammered President Donald Trump for his reaction over the Russian bounties scandal. The ad released by the veterans group VoteVets, which is a non-profit organization has attacked Trump's response that he wasn't briefed upon the report that Russia had paid Taliban to execute US troops in Afghanistan.

Benedict Donald: New advertisement attacks Trump over Russian bounties scandal

Russia has denied reports that it offered Taliban-linked militants bounties to kill US troops in Afghanistan, a BBC report said. Earlier, The New York Times reported that a Russian military intelligence unit offered the alleged bounties last year.

Russia denies paying militants to kill US troops in Afghanistan

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate set to challenge Trump in the November 3 election, criticised US President Donald Trump for not acting against reports of Russian spies offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants t kill US troops in Afghanistan.

Joe Biden criticizes Trump for not acting against reported Russian bounties