Russia’s international ministry confirmed they spoke ‘on the transfer’ at a G20 assembly in India however mentioned they didn’t maintain negotiations on Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov have met briefly at a gathering of prime diplomats from the Group of 20 nations within the first high-level assembly in months between the 2 international locations.
US officers mentioned Blinken and Lavrov chatted on Thursday for roughly 10 minutes on the sidelines of the G-20 convention in New Delhi. The quick encounter comes as relations between Washington and Moscow have plummeted whereas tensions over Russia’s battle with Ukraine have soared.
A senior US official mentioned Blinken used the dialogue to make three factors to Lavrov: that the US would help Ukraine within the battle for so long as it takes to convey the battle to an finish, that Russia ought to reverse its resolution to droop participation within the New START nuclear treaty and that Moscow ought to launch detained American Paul Whelan.
The official, who spoke to reporters on situation of anonymity to debate the personal dialog, mentioned Blinken had “disabused” Lavrov of any concept they may have that US help for Ukraine is wavering.
The official declined to characterize Lavrov’s response however mentioned Blinken didn’t get the impression that there can be any change in Russia’s conduct within the close to time period.
Russia’s international ministry confirmed that Lavrov and Blinken spoke as they have been “on the transfer” on the G20 assembly however didn’t maintain negotiations or a gathering, Russian information businesses reported.
This marks the primary contact that Blinken and Lavrov have had since July, once they spoke by cellphone a couple of US proposal for Russia to launch Whelan and previously detained WNBA star, Brittney Griner.
Griner was later launched in a swap for imprisoned Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout, however Whelan stays detained in Russia after being accused of spying.
