Blinken, Lavrov speak amid war of words over Ukraine at G20 meet
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a brief encounter on the G20 foreign ministers meeting’s sidelines in India
NEW DELHI, India – The United States and its European allies sparred with Russia over the war in Ukraine at a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi on Thursday, March 2, with the rival sides each accusing the other of destabilizing the world.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a brief encounter on the meeting’s sidelines during which Blinken urged Russia to reverse its decision on the New START nuclear treaty, a senior US official said.
Blinken also told Lavrov that Washington was prepared to support Ukraine to defend itself for as long as it takes, the official said. The two spoke for less than 10 minutes in what is believed to be their first one-on-one conversation in person since before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“We always remain hopeful that the Russians will reverse their decision and be prepared to engage in a diplomatic process that can
