According to the official representative of the US State Department, the condition for negotiations between the heads of the two departments may be “reducing the level of violence” and improving the humanitarian situation in Ukraine
During the meeting of Anthony Blinken (left) and Sergey Lavrov, held in December 2021
The United States believes that the conversation between the heads of the diplomatic departments of the United States and Russia, Anthony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov, was not constructive in the current conditions, but it can take place provided that it helps to reduce the level of violence in Ukraine. This was stated at a press conference by the press secretary of the US State Department, Ned Price.
“If there are suitable conditions and if we consider that a conversation between them [Blinken and Lavrov] will help reduce the level of violence or improve the humanitarian situation for Ukrainians, then this will be done,” he said.
Blinken last spoke with Lavrov on February 15. At that time, the two diplomats also discussed proposals on security guarantees that Moscow handed over to the United States and NATO. Lavrov noted the “inadmissibility of aggressive rhetoric being whipped up by Washington and its closest allies” and called for a pragmatic dialogue on the entire range of issues raised by Russia.
Russia has been conducting a military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine since February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the announcement of its start, said that the expansion of NATO to the east causes “special concern and alarm”. In his opinion, the alliance has become an instrument of Washington’s foreign policy.
Russia opposes Ukraine’s plans to join NATO. In particular, this requirement became one of the key ones during the negotiations on security guarantees with NATO and the United States, which Moscow initiated in December 2021. Negotiations on this issue were unsuccessful, as the alliance stated that this requirement is not acceptable.
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The United States condemned the special operation in Ukraine and imposed sanctions against Moscow. Foreign exchange reserves, financial and industrial companies, as well as high-ranking officials and the military were also subject to restrictions. Lavrov himself was included in the SDN list: all his assets (if any) in the US jurisdiction will be blocked.
Russia has called Western sanctions illegal and has repeatedly imposed mirror measures, including against Blinken and other top US officials.
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