Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has agreed to meet his British counterpart Ben Wallace in Moscow to discuss the Russian-Western crisis over Ukraine which still threatens to escalate, a Defense Ministry source said on Saturday. British.
Read also“
What is happening now in Ukraine is crucial and will have consequences for decades to come
”
"
The Secretary of Defense is pleased that Russia has accepted the invitation to meet with his counterpart
," the source said.
"
Since the last bilateral meeting between our two countries took place in London in 2013, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu offered to meet in Moscow
," she added.
On the British side, "
the minister clearly indicated that he would explore all avenues to achieve stability and a resolution of the Ukrainian crisis
", added this same source, specifying that he was always "
in communication with the Russian government
" for the practical details.
“Franks” talks
The announcement of this bilateral meeting comes as a certain relaxation between Westerners and Moscow began on Friday after several weeks of verbal escalation, during talks in Geneva between the heads of Russian and American diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov and Antony Blinken.
The two ministers agreed to continue their " frank
" talks next week
, giving UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hope that a Russian military invasion or incursion into Ukraine "
won't happen
".
Read alsoIn the Baltic countries, the French army and its allies train for war against Russia
Russia is accused by the West of having massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the border in preparation for an attack.
The Kremlin denies any bellicose intentions but conditions a de-escalation on treaties guaranteeing the non-enlargement of NATO, in particular to Ukraine, and a withdrawal from the Atlantic Alliance in Eastern Europe.
Unacceptable, say the West, who threaten Russia with destructive sanctions in the event of an attack.
