Blinken, Lavrov talk at G20 meeting as US-Russia tensions soar

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.

Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov attend the East Asia summit of international ministers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 5, 2022 [File: Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters]

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov have met briefly at a gathering of high diplomats from the Group of 20 nations within the first high-level assembly in months between the 2 nations.

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 brief encounter comes as relations between Washington and Moscow have plummeted whereas tensions over Russia’s conflict with Ukraine have soared.

A senior US official mentioned Blinken used the dialogue to make three factors to Lavrov: that america would assist Ukraine within the battle for so long as it takes to convey the conflict 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 non-public dialog, mentioned Blinken had “disabused” Lavrov of any concept they may have that US assist for Ukraine is wavering.

INTERACTIVE-WHO CONTROLS WHAT IN UKRAINE
(Al Jazeera)

The official declined to characterise Lavrov’s response however mentioned Blinken didn't get the impression that there can be any change in Russia’s behaviour 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 few 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.

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