No Breakthroughs in US-Russia Talks as Both Sides Hold Firm on Red Lines

LOCAL NEWS

• No signs of breakthroughs in US-Russia talks yesterday that lasted 7.5 hours as Moscow repeated security demands that Washington says it cannot accept.
  • US’ Sherman said "We were firm in pushing back on security proposals that are simply non-starters to the US.
• However, Sherman also hinted at the possibility of mutual compromises, saying Washington was open to discussing missile deployments in Europe as well as limiting the size and scope of military exercises.
  • Ryabkov said guarantees for Ukraine/Georgia non-entry to NATO were issues of national security, but the US also said this was a non-starter
• Russian Embassy in the US strongly rejects WH Sec Psaki’s statement about the preparation of the United States for the possible spread of disinformation by Russia regarding the content of the US-Russia talks in Geneva
• US senate to vote on Nord Stream 2 sanctions this week amid US-Russia security talks. Senate democrats are rallying behind Biden to present a united front in allowing the pipeline to go ahead as he has said on numerous occasions that it seems hard to stop at this point in somewhat of a concession to Russia.
  • Meanwhile senate Republicans remains vehemently against the pipeline
• Largest banks continued to raise rates on mortgage programs. Seven of the ten leading credit institutions in this market had rates exceeding 10% per annum