US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. File photoWASHINGTON, Feb. 18 U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has accepted a Russian offer to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on February 23, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. «Secretary Blinken accepted the invitation meet with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov next Wednesday,» Psaki said during a regular briefing.A meeting place for Lavrov and Blinken is being worked out, she added that Blinken's plans to negotiate with Lavrov will remain in place until Russia decides to launch a hypothetical invasion of Ukraine. Of course, they can change their mind, and we intend to leave the door open for diplomacy,” the White House spokeswoman said. Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in “aggressive actions” by Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. Allegations that Russia is allegedly preparing provocations in Ukraine continue to come from the West, despite the return of Russian troops to their places of deployment after the exercises. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. At a meeting with Putin, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry reported that «some of the exercises are coming to an end, some will be completed in the near future.» Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said on Tuesday that the Southern and Western military districts of the Russian Federation have begun returning troops to their places of deployment. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said they were ready to accept a meeting between Lavrov and BlinkenPosted: Daria Buimova
