Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will not meet his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken despite both attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York this weekend, Moscow said Friday.
Tensions between Russia and the United States have worsened since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Washington is considering allowing Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with long-range weapons.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov dismissed the possibility of a meeting with Blinken, stating, “What is there to talk about with him?” Over 130 heads of state will be present at the UN General Assembly amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan.
Russia, heavily sanctioned due to the Ukraine conflict, asserts it is not isolated. Lavrov’s schedule in New York focuses beyond Ukraine. Ryabkov emphasized that Ukraine is not the main topic at the General Assembly and highlighted other contentious issues between Moscow and Washington.
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