The parties discussed the current situation in Ukraine, including the supply of weapons to Kiev, the possible exchange of prisoners, as well as the situation in the field of ensuring global food security
MOSCOW, July 29. /tass/. The United States should return to "quiet diplomacy" in negotiations with Russia on a possible prisoner exchange. This, as reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry, was stated on Friday by the head of the Ministry Sergey Lavrov in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
They also discussed the situation in Ukraine, the grain agreements reached in Istanbul a week ago, and "bilateral relations in dire need of normalization," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
TASS has collected the main information about the first conversation between Lavrov and Blinken after the start of the operation in Ukraine.
The context of the conversation
This is the first conversation between Lavrov and Blinken since February 15. It was planned that they would meet in Europe on February 24, but two days before that, the US Secretary of State canceled the meeting.
They also had the opportunity to meet on the sidelines of the G20 foreign Ministers' meeting in Bali on July 8, but both sides said they were not planning bilateral talks.
On July 27, Blinken himself announced his intention to call Lavrov in the coming days. He confirmed media reports about Washington's readiness to exchange Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving time in the United States on charges of arms trafficking, for Americans Brittney Griner (accused of drug smuggling) and Paul Whelan (convicted of espionage).
The next day, the State Department reported that a request for a telephone conversation had been sent to Moscow. Lavrov on Friday afternoon noted that "about a day" had passed between Blinken's statement and receiving a request from Washington, and confirmed his readiness to listen to his American counterpart.
The situation in Ukraine
Lavrov, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, outlined "Russian principled approaches in the light of the ongoing special military operation" and stressed that "its goals and objectives will be fully fulfilled."
He also noted that the transfer of Western weapons to Ukraine "only prolongs the agony of the regime in Kiev, prolonging the conflict and multiplying the victims."
In addition, the minister recalled that the Russian military strictly observe the norms of international law, and "systematic work has been established in the liberated territories to return to peaceful life," the Foreign Ministry said.
As Blinken stated at the briefing, he warned Lavrov about Washington's intention to impose new sanctions against Moscow in the event that a number of Ukrainian territories become part of Russia.
Grain Deal
The Russian Foreign Minister told the US Secretary of State about the details of the agreements signed in Istanbul, involving the creation of safe corridors for the export of grain from Ukraine and the efforts of the UN "to promote Russian exports of food and fertilizers."
The United States, Lavrov stressed, has not yet fulfilled its promises to "provide appropriate exemptions" from its sanctions, which complicate food supplies from Russia, and as a result, the situation with global food security. He also stated that it was unacceptable for the "collective West" to use this problem in its geopolitical interests."
Blinken noted in the conversation that "the world expects Russia to fulfill its obligations under the deal reached with Ukraine, Turkey and the UN," and the United States is striving "to ensure that this happens as soon as possible."
Prisoner exchange
Lavrov strongly suggested that Blinken, when discussing a possible exchange, return "to the professional mode, without speculative information stuffing, dialogue" and "quiet diplomacy." Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the fact of negotiations on the exchange of Whelan and Griner for Booth.
The American Secretary of State told reporters that he urged Lavrov to "move forward," but did not evaluate the interlocutor's reaction and the very possibility of an exchange.
