Lavrov & Blinken Set to Speak Via Phone; Russia Denies Responding to US Proposals

LOCAL NEWS

• Lavrov & Blinken are set to speak today via telephone to discuss US/NATO written responses to Moscow’s security proposals. Blinken has described the U.S. proposal as something that offers the Kremlin "a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it."
  • Pathways to de-escalation were provided in missile inspections and parameters on military drills, but not on NATO accession and non-expansion eastward
• US State Dept says it has received feedback from Russia RE Washington’s proposals regarding security & a de-escalation in Ukraine, refusing to disclose the information saying it would be unproductive to negotiate in public.
  • Russia has denied that it responded, saying it was still working on a comprehensive response to the West’s counter-proposals
• New UK package of sanctions to be ready by Feb 10 according to Liz Truss. This package includes measures on Russian Oligarchs, which Russia described as “very concerning”
• Russian UN representative says the US is trying to mislead the world community about the real state of affairs around Ukraine, highlighting that Ukrainian officials have been saying there is no threat from Russia in recent weeks.
  • Says plans to hold a UN meeting on Ukraine will only boost tensions through megaphone diplomacy
• Biden speaks to Congress on providing Qatar the status of "main ally outside NATO." Biden & the Emir Spoke about an agreement for Qatar's assistance in overcoming the energy crisis in Europe in the event of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.
  • Biden noted that "efforts to develop contingency plans if Russia tries to cut off Europe's gas supplies are perhaps the most pressing issue on their agenda."
• Amid reports of possible sanctions restrictions, Sberbank held technological exercises. They simulated the shutdown of the bank’s IT infrastructure from the support of Microsoft, Nvidia, VMware, SAP and other companies