US State Department spokesman Ned Price said his country does not believe Anthony Blinken’s talk with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will change Russia’s stance on START and the Ukraine crisis.
Price pointed out that: “The United States has no illusions that the conversation with Anthony Blinken, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the framework of the G20 meetings will lead to a change in Russia’s position on the implementation of the START treaty and the situation in Ukraine.”
Price said: “We are ready to cooperate when it is in our interests and those of our allies and partners in the world.”
Price explained: “The US Secretary of State has clearly outlined three priorities regarding the implementation of the START treaty, the release of American convicted spy Paul Whelan, and the completion of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, and, as we have said, we do not count on one specific meeting with Minister Lavrov will lead to the solution of these issues, we will remain ready for interaction if it is in our interests.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the brief conversation between Blinken and Lavrov a “planned election campaign” to heighten interest in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Earlier, Zakharova commented on the statements of Anthony Blinken and said that Foreign Minister Lavrov “in his usual manner met all attempts and responded to all attempts of Blinken.”
Source: TASS
