The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, scheduled for Thursday, will not happen.
“Last week I agreed to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week, on February 24, to discuss our countries’ concerns about European security, but only if Russia does not invade Ukraine. Now we see that the invasion is beginning, and Russia has demonstrated a denial of diplomacy, now there is no point in this meeting,” Blinken said at a briefing on the results of talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba on Tuesday, February 22.
According to him, all allies and partners agreed with this and a corresponding letter was already sent to Lavrov.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced its readiness for talks between Lavrov and Blinken.
“Even in the most difficult moments, we have always said that we are ready for the negotiation process. Therefore, our position remains the same, we are ready for the negotiation process. We always advocate the use of diplomacy,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said.
The denial of the US side happened after on February 21, the Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and have also signed with them agreements on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.
Joe Biden added that for several months the US has been working closely with partners and allies in Europe and around the world to prepare a response to Russia’s actions and now Russia’s recognition of the independence of the DPR and the LPR is equal to an attack on Ukraine.
“This is the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Biden claimed.
He however did not offer any peaceful solution to any of the existing problems and did not mention in what way the US helped Donbass people to survive. Probably, because it has never happened and would not, as the only country helping DPR and LPR has always been Russia. Certainly, it is easier to blame Russia than to save people from massacres and destruction. And certainly, it is easier to show “concern” for a situation than to sit and make a real dialogue with Russia to ensure safety around the world.
Ru-Main, 23.02.2022
Source: Interfax
