In the first high-level meeting between the two countries in months, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met briefly at a Group of 20 meeting. Blinken and Lavrov spoke for about 10 minutes on Thursday at the G-20 conference in New Delhi, according to US officials. As tensions over Russia’s war with Ukraine rise, Washington and Moscow’s relations have plummeted.
A senior US official said Blinken used the discussion to make three points to Lavrov: that the US would support Ukraine in the conflict for as long as it takes to end the war, that Russia should reverse its decision to suspend participation in the New START nuclear treaty, and that Moscow should release detained American Paul Whelan. Blinken “disabused” Lavrov of any notion that US support for Ukraine is wavering, the official said. The official declined to characterize Lavrov’s response but said Blinken did not get the impression that Russia’s behavior would change soon. According to Russian news agencies, Lavrov and Blinken spoke “on the move” at the G20 meeting but did not negotiate or meet. It was reported from New Delhi that the foreign ministers G20 meeting ended on a “tense and divisive note”. “There is no joint declaration or statement, which was expected given what happened last week at the G20 finance ministers meeting. Because participating nations disagree on Ukraine’s war. “That is the main topic at G20 meetings today and last week,” said Mittal. While not scheduled, US foreign secretary Antony Blinken and Russian foreign secretary Sergei Lavrov “met for about 10 minutes,” Mittal said.
The US reaffirmed its support for Ukraine. Lavrov was also urged by Blinken to reinstate the NEW START nuclear arms treaty. In a press conference, Lavrov blamed western nations for making “emotional statements” and derailing the G20 agenda. According to Mittal, “He also supported China, which was criticized by the US and Germany for supplying weapons to Russia.” Blinken and Lavrov haven’t spoken since July, when they discussed a US proposal to release Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner. Whelan was arrested in Russia for spying, but Griner was released in exchange for imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
