Moscow: Despite the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on February 15. During the discussion, Blinken reaffirmed the United States' commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine situation, which he claimed "Moscow initiated." Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, urged Blinken to engage in a "pragmatic debate" on Moscow's concerns, especially the security suggestions.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov stressed the significance of continuing efforts agreed upon by US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during the telephonic conversation. Lavrov underlined that the US and Russia must work together on the security ideas that Russia has provided to the US and NATO. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the United States and its closest allies' "aggressive language" is unacceptable. At various levels, both sides also discussed the schedule of future meetings. After Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported that some Russian troops had begun to return to their various military bases, Lavrov and Blinken spoke on the phone.
Lavrov emphasised the in-acceptability of Washington's and its allies' harsh rhetoric, and urged a pragmatic engagement on the whole spectrum of problems highlighted by Russia, including the indivisibility of security.
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