Breaking news: An important statement came from the United States on contact with Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that he will hold a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the coming days. As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue since February 24, this meeting will be the first meeting between the two countries’ ministers since the beginning of the war. Here are all the details of the breaking news…
HERE ARE THE ISSUES TO CONSIDER
At the press conference, Blinken said that in the phone call she planned to have with Lavrov, “an important “presented to Russia” weeks ago “weeks ago” to bring US female basketball player Brittney Griner and US ex-soldier Paul Whelan, who were detained by Russia, back to the USA. He also stated that he plans to discuss the agreement signed in Istanbul on the Ukraine grain export proposal. Blinken did not elaborate on the offer for the prisoner swap.
It was alleged that the US offered to trade Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US, to bring Griner and Whelan back to the US. Whelan has been incarcerated in Russia since 2018 on charges of espionage, and Griner since last February for drug possession.
Stressing that he will not negotiate on Ukraine in his phone call with Lavrov, Blinken reiterated that they will not discuss Ukraine with the Russian side without the Ukrainian side.
A FIRST SINCE THE WAR
The meeting will be the first between the two ministers since the start of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. (UAV)