#Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov &
@SecBlinken held their first phone conversation.
Here's a couple of my observations:
Short THREAD
@SecBlinken held their first phone conversation.
Here's a couple of my observations:
Short THREAD
1.If one reads the @StateDept press release they may get a sense that @SecBlinken only put forward new #US demands (new START should include all #Russia/n nukes+address #China threat) or raised unpleasant issues for #Moscow (interference, hacking, #Ukraine, @navalny) which he did
2.@mfa_russia's press release gives a sense that the talk was actually substantial & touched upon many issues of common interest:
- arms control
- #Syria,#Libya (!),#Ukraine
-cooperation on #COVID19 relief measures including vaccine (!)
- settling issues over diplomatic missions
- arms control
- #Syria,#Libya (!),#Ukraine
-cooperation on #COVID19 relief measures including vaccine (!)
- settling issues over diplomatic missions
3. Yes, #Lavrov raised the issue of "[political persecution] of those who protested against the results of US elections & called for transparency in their trial" But it seems it was in response to @SecBlinken over the case of @navalny.
4. Intresting that Lavrov also reiterated #Russia/n proposals to #US to adopt bilateral statements over "prohobition" of nuclear war [b/n the parties] & non-interference into each other domestics.This reads like #Moscow's proposals for possible new foundations of US-RUS relations
5. In the meantime,#US press release gave me optimism that there might be progress over release of American& #Russia/n citizens that are detained in RUS & US respectively.The Russian statement made me hope for some positive news over restoration of the work of diplomatic missions
6.The issues of subversion,interference in domestics, human rights & sanctions to dominate the agenda.Overall relationship will remain sour & probably on the downward trajectory.But the little steps should be welcomed - they're not a "gift" to the other party, just good diplomacy
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