Blinken and Russia’s Lavrov meet under tensions over Ukraine
Speaking at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Stockholm, Lavrov warned that NATO’s expansion in the east would affect “fundamental interests” for Russian security.
He stressed that although Russia “does not want any conflicts” with NATO over Ukraine, it retains “the right to choose ways to secure its legitimate security interests.”
And of course, let us not forget the proclaimed principle of indivisibility and security, including in the OSCE, in Russia’s Nature Council, which states that no one has the right to strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others. And NATO’s continued progress to the east will definitely affect the fundamental interests of our security. “
Meanwhile, the United States warned again that it would have “serious consequences” if Russia engaged in “striving for confrontation” with Ukraine.
Blinken told the summit participants that the United States has “deep concern about Russia’s plans for renewed aggression against Ukraine.”
This aggression would “lead us in the exact opposite direction,” Blinken said, emphasizing “it is simply not in anyone’s interest.”
He added that “the best way to avert the crisis is through diplomacy”, and called on Russia to abide by the Minsk peace agreements signed in 2015 between Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.
The interpretation of this and other key OSCE documents appeared to be a problem between the two countries, where Lavrov said that it was “clear” that the United States and Russia interpret them “differently”.
Blinken criticized Russia’s accession to the Helsinki Final Act, a multilateral agreement dating back to 1975, and said that the country “continues to violate the Helsinki principles and repeatedly hinders the work of this organization.”
Despite the accusations, the two officials recognized the importance of dialogue, in which Lavrov acknowledged “the importance of our two states for global stability and security, including in the Euro-Atlantic area.”
Blinken also held a bilateral meeting on Thursday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba, in which the top US diplomat reiterated Washington’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and its independence.
The OSCE summit comes on the heels of a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Latvia, which was dominated by concerns over recent events in Belarus and Russia’s intentions in Ukraine.
The United States and NATO say Russia is increasing the number of combat troops near the border with Ukraine.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied that Russia plans to invade Ukraine and sees NATO support for the country as a threat to Russia’s western border.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for specific agreements that would preclude further NATO expansion to the east and the deployment of its weapons near Russia’s borders.
On Tuesday, Putin said NATO’s military expansion near Russian borders and the deployment of missile systems in Ukraine would cross a “red line” for Russia. In response to Western action that Russia perceives as a threat, the country is developing its own hypersonic missile weapons.
CNN’s Alex Marquardt reported from Stockholm, Niamh Kennedy from London and Anna Chernova from Moscow.