US’, Russia’s top diplomats hold talks for 1st time since Ukraine war

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday on the sidelines of the G-20 conference in India’s capital New Delhi, marking the first step of its kind since the start of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in February 2022.

The foreign ministers of the G-20 finished their meeting without consensus regarding the war in Ukraine. No collective statement was issued, as both Russia and China objected to condemn the war.

The meeting comes as US-Russia relations continue to deteriorate over loads of weapon supplies from Western countries.  

At a news conference, Blinken said he told Lavrov that the US would continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Blinken said he also urged Russia to return to the 2010 New START nuclear treaty, which restricts the number of US and Russian nuclear warheads and grant them the power to inspect each other’s weapons.

The US Secretary of State also said that he urged Moscow to release American citizen Paul Whelan, who has been held in Russia for four years on espionage charges.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the meeting, saying Blinken had asked to speak to Lavrov.