A handshake, frank, before starting their discussions. The heads of American and Russian diplomacy, Antony Blinken and Sergei Lavrov, are in Geneva (Switzerland), Friday January 21, to find a solution to the Ukrainian crisis. Washington suspects Moscow of wanting to invade its Ukrainian neighbor, despite threats of heavy reprisals. Their exchange should not last more than two hours. Follow our live.
A face to face. From the start of the talks, the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov said he did not expect “to a breakthrough” during discussions with his American counterpart. Sitting in front of him, Antony Blinken promised an answer “united, fast and severe” in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, while ensuring that the United States continued to seek a diplomatic solution.
Russia has conditions. To allow a de-escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, Moscow is calling for the withdrawal of foreign NATO troops from Bulgaria and Romania. “There is no ambiguity”writes the Russian Foreign Ministry in response to a written question from the media. “It is about the withdrawal of foreign forces, equipment and armaments as well as other measures with the aim of returning to the situation of 1997 in the countries which were not then members of NATO. the case of Romania and Bulgaria.”
Ukraine has doubts. Kiev accuses Moscow on Friday morning of having increased its deliveries of arms and military equipment to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. “The command of the Russian Armed Forces continues to strengthen combat capabilities” separatists by sending them tanks, artillery systems and ammunition, says the Ukrainian military intelligence service in a press release.