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US Off Confirms Blinken/Lavrov Chat, Called For Reversal On New START

US-RUSSIA

WaPo reportingcomments from an unnamed senior US State Dep't official. Says that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had a 'brief encounter' with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for less than 10 mins on the margins of the G20 foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi. Official says Blinken urged Lavrov for Russia to reverse its decision to suspend participation in the New START nuclear treaty. Says Blinken underscored to Lavrov that the US is prepared to support Ukraine to defend itself as long as it takes.

  • WaPo reports that according to the official, 'Blinken did not get the impression that there would be any change in Russia’s behavior in the near term.'
  • Comes as Russian Deputy Foreign Min Sergei Ryabkov, speaking at a disarmament conference in Switzerland, says that the US and Kyiv 'are able to stop this conflict tomorrow if they take the right decisions.' Adds that Russia 'are not going to be the first to test a nuclear device', and that 'if the US does not carry out nuclear tests, we will not but we must prepare for the worst.'

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