US Secretary of State Blinken: no meetings between US President Biden and Russian leader Putin are planned
Anthony Blinken. Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken answered the question about the upcoming meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying that no new meetings are planned yet. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
“There are no plans to do this now,” Blinken said, adding that negotiations should proceed “against the backdrop of a de-escalation of the situation,” meaning the situation around Ukraine.
“We also want Russia to reduce tensions by withdrawing troops from the border with Ukraine. It is much more appropriate to negotiate in such conditions than when tensions continue to rise, ”the Secretary of State said.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the communication between Putin and Biden took place in an atmosphere of mutual respect, although they cannot be called friends. The spokesman for the head of state recalled that Putin spoke with Biden, while still in the post of prime minister of Russia, during international events.
On December 7, the presidents of Russia and the United States held talks via video link. The Russian leader contacted the American president from his residence in Sochi.
