Blinken: No Breakthrough Expected at Talks With Lavrov Today

LOCAL NEWS

• Blinken says he does not expect any breakthroughs from Geneva talks with Lavrov, but hopes to Moscow’s position following last week’s meetings and consulting internally with President Putin.
  • Notes that talks are at “an important moment” and the US plans to see if it can really continue to pursue a diplomatic path. Both side see far apart with Russia also doubtful on progress in the absence of written responses to its security guarantees (expected potentially by next week) –
• Ambassador to the US, Antonov, says Recent statements by US officials suggest that the it would like to limit the discussion of the issue of security guarantees in Europe to Ukrainian issues, reducing the discussion about security guarantees.
  • "Such actions are unacceptable. They do not carry any added value for solving problems of global security and lead to further degradation of relations between the two countries."
• Russia’s OSCE representative Lukashevich says he is concerned by the increased NATO deployment of weapons in Ukraine.
  • Says more US military transport and reconnaissance aircraft have been registered over Ukraine with the US lifting restrictions on missile exports to Baltic states. Warns Kiev is being “pushed towards a new spiral of violence in the Donbas”