Moscow declines prospect of encounter with Lavrov amidst sideline events during UN General Assembly gathering
Russia has dismissed the possibility of a meeting between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart Antony Blinken during the UN General Assembly debate. "Definitely not. What's there to chat about with him?", Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov commented when asked about a potential encounter between the two high-ranking diplomats. Over 130 heads of state and government are anticipated to attend the yearly UN General Debate in New York, commencing this Sunday.
The relationship between Russia and the United States has taken a nosedive due to Russia's actions in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Moscow asserts that despite extensive Western sanctions, it isn't globally ostracized.
Ryabkov stated that Lavrov's schedule in New York is packed with a "gargantuan list of meetings", none of which pertain to Ukraine. Russia and its allies aim to demonstrate that the Ukraine crisis "is not the sole or perhaps even the most significant issue" at the UN General Debate.
Ryabkov affirmed that he didn't arrange a meeting between Lavrov and Blinken, saying, "Of course I did not. There seems to be no purpose for such an encounter." Despite the busy schedule, key topics at the UN General Debate are expected to bypass the Ukraine crisis, as Russia and its allies intend to highlight other pressing global matters.
