Lavrov: Moscow and Washington are working to activate contacts between them

Moscow-Sana

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that there is a common desire between Russia and the United States to activate contacts at various levels, denying at the same time that there is a specific date for a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.

In response to a question by reporters about the possibility of holding a Russian-American meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming G-20 summit in Rome, Lavrov said, according to what was reported by “Interfax” agency: “In general, during my contacts with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and at the level of our deputies, we are studying possible timetables for further contacts between The two presidents, and there is a mutual desire to revitalize these contacts.”

Lavrov did not specify a possible date for the Russian-American meeting, and said: "When we find a time frame acceptable to both sides, we will, of course, inform you of that."

In a related context, Lavrov explained that the Central Asian countries have repeatedly assured Russia of their unwillingness to deploy US forces on their territory and considered these interventions "unacceptable" for them. He also indicated that he had not heard of the US intention to deploy anti-terror forces in Uzbekistan.

Regarding the resumption of contacts with the Normandy Group (Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine) regarding the settlement in eastern Ukraine, Lavrov reiterated the need to ensure the implementation of previous decisions adopted in this format.

The Russian Foreign Minister also drew attention to the joint statement adopted at the conclusion of the European-Ukrainian summit held in Kiev, which calls Russia directly the “aggressor” and “very blunt” phrases that demand Moscow fulfill the Minsk agreements “as if we are, as stated in the statement, a party to the agreement,” stressing However, that seriously contradicts the truth.