senior diplomats of The United States and Russia faced off and talked briefly on Thursday for the first time since Moscow invasion of Ukraine, without indicating any move towards easing the high tensions between the two countries.
the highest-Level inconversations between the US Secretary of State of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov came at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow were deteriorating. over Russia war with Ukraine, tensions have risen amid countless of Disputes, complaints and mutual accusations on Other matters range from arms control to embassy staff and prisoners.
US officials said Blinken and Lavrov chatted for about 10 minutes on Sidelines of G-20 Conference of foreign ministers in New Delhi. But there wasn’t sign of No progress and the meeting ended with The assembly is unable to reach a consensus on Ukraine war.
Still, with Relations are at their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War, merely fact that monday men met Show it, at least for moment, lines of High-level contacts between Washington and Moscow remained open.
in news At the conference, Blinken told Lavrov that the United States would continue to do so support Ukraine for As long as it pays and it pays for War ends through diplomacy terms that Kyiv Agree on.
“End this war of Aggression, engagement in Meaningful diplomacy that can be produced just Blinken told Lavrov. But he noted, “President Putin has shown zero interest in Engage, saying that there is nothing to talk about unless Ukraine accepts, and I quote, “The new regional reality. “
flash also He urged Russia to reverse its “irresponsible behaviour.” decision Go back to Share in New START Nuclear Treaty.
Mutual compliance in interest of both countriesBlinken told Lavrov. Oh added It’s “no matter what happens in the world and in Our relationship, the United States is always ready to engage and work on strategic arms control, just As did the United States and the Soviet Union even in their heyday of cold War “.
flash also He urged Moscow to release the detained American, Paul Whelan, and said: “I put the United States forward Serious suggestion. Russia should Take it.”
Blinken had told the G20 meeting earlier that Russia was at war with Ukraine can not go unchallenged.
We must continue call on Russia ends its war of Aggression and withdrawal from Ukraine for in order to of international Peace and economic stability. He indicated that 141 countries He had voted to condemn Russia at the United Nations on the first holiday of the invasion.
To date, many members of The G20, including host India, China and South Africa, chose to abstain in that vote. K resultdespite pleas from senior Indian officials to look beyond their differences over Ukraine and drafting consensus on Other issues, foreign ministers can’t do that or agree on a final Statement.
Indian Foreign Minister Subramaniam Jaishankar said there were “differences”. on the issue of the war in Ukraine, “with which we could not come to terms various The parties had different points of view.” “If we had a perfect meeting of minds on All issues, it would have been a collective statement,” Jaishankar said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier appealed for All members of The fractured G20 to reach consensus on problems of Special concern for the poor countries Even if the broader division is between East and West over Ukraine is insurmountable.
“We all have our own positions and points of view on how These tensions should Modi said. “we should no allow issues that we can’t resolve together in the future in the way of Those we can.”
According to the summary of Thursday’s meeting of India, China and Russia objected to two paragraphs taken from the previous G20 declaration in Bali last year. Blinken lamented that “Russia and China were the only two countries countries that made clear They won’t sign off on Text.”
Paragraphs stated that war in Ukraine was causing enormous human suffering while exacerbating fragility in the global economythe need for support international law, that use or threat of use of Nuclear weapons are not allowed.”
despite of failure to check complete The consensus, Blinken said he is optimistic that 18 of The twenty nations agreed on invitation statement for An immediate end to the war steps To improve energy and food security, which have been severely affected by the conflict.
Lavrov, who He did not mention the words with blinkin when held news Conference after the G-20 sessiontold reporters that Moscow will continue to pressure its measures in Ukraine. However, he shrugged off Western allegations of Russia isolation, saying, “We do not feel isolated. It is the West that has isolated itself, and it will eventually realize it.”
Russia said remains Open to conversations on ending the conflict in Ukraine, but accused the West of Effectively prevent such discussions.
“They’re calling on us For conversations, but I don’t remember any Western colleagues Connection on Ukraine for talks. “They are encouraging Ukraine to continue the war.”
Lavrov also The threats of the United States ridicule against China that presented a peace plan for Ukraine, which was praised by Moscow and rejected by Washington and its Western allies.
“Our Western colleagues They lost their restraint, forgot their morality, put aside diplomacy and turned exclusively to blackmail and threats.
Russia did not have an immediacy comment on Subject of conversation, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Blinken had asked to speak to Lavrov.
had them first contact since then last Summer when Blinken spoke to Lavrov on the phone about an American offer for Russia releases former WNBA detained Whelan star, Brittney Griner. Griner is later released in swap for Imprisoned Russian weapons dealer Victor Bout, but Whelan remains detained in Russia.
Whelan, the executive director of corporate security for the state of Michigan, is in custody for four years on espionage accuse him of that family And the United States government He said baseless.
for him brother David said family Expresses gratitude to Blinken”took This prestigious, rare opportunity to include Paul’s freedom in his discussions with Kremlin representatives.” But he noted that Paul Whelan is 53 years old on Sunday, his fifth birthday in Guarantee. He is being held in prison in Mordovia region in “sub-zero Celsius temperatures with the heat turned off, said David Whelan in e-mail.
“Paul continues to suffer … so for All statecraft and stalling, we have brother weakens for Another birthday no matter how many more Milestones as a Russian hostage.”
the last Blinken and Lavrov time met in was the person in Geneva, Switzerland, in January 2022 on eve of Russia invasion. At that meeting, Blinken warned Lavrov of the consequences of Russia’s persistence with planned military practical but also He sought to address some of the complaints made by Russian President Vladimir Putin made About the United States and NATO.
Those talks proved inconclusive – Russia moved on with that it plans For the invasion, Blinken then abolishes the table follow-up interview with That was Lavrov set for just Two days before Moscow was finally conquered on February 24, 2022.
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