No Breakthrough, But U.S., Russia Say Talks Useful Amid Ukraine Crisis
According to RFE/RL, the top diplomats of Russia and the United States have failed to make any breakthroughs in another round of Ukraine talks in Geneva, though the discussions reportedly helped clear a path to understanding each other’s positions amid fears Russia will invade despite Western warnings of severe consequences.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met for about 90 minutes on January 21 as they try to avert a possible war in Europe amid Moscow’s demands for concessions from NATO over its ties with the former Soviet republic.
Both diplomats said the talks were frank and gave hope for more diplomacy on the Ukraine crisis.
"We didn't expect any major breakthroughs to happen today, but I believe we are now on a clear path in terms of understanding each other's concerns and each other's positions," Blinken told reporters after the meeting.
Lavrov in turn said he hopes "emotions will decrease" after the talks, which follow a flurry of diplomacy in recent days that has failed to bridge deep divides.
Russia has amassed more than 125,000 troops in occupied Crimea and near Ukraine's borders, raising alarm bells in Western capitals that Moscow is preparing further military action against Ukraine.
Moscow is backing separatist fighters in an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since 2014, the same year it illegally annexed Crimea.
Russia has ramped up its belligerent rhetoric recently as it presses for a list of security guarantees. The demands include a promise from NATO never to admit Ukraine and for a significant retreat of the alliance from Eastern Europe. Moscow is also angered over Western military support to Ukraine.
On January 21, Russia's Foreign Ministry published on its website answers to questions from journalists received at a press conference seven days earlier on Russian diplomacy last year.
One of the ministry's answers noted that Russia is looking for "steps aimed at restoring the 1997 configuration of those countries who weren’t NATO members at that time and that includes both Bulgaria and Romania."
Washington and its allies have said most of Russia’s demands are nonstarters.
Romania's Foreign Ministry said the Russian demand is "unacceptable and cannot be part of a negotiation," while Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said his country "made its choice long ago by becoming a NATO member."
