Thread: Blinken, Lavrov agree to work together despite differences.

Top diplomats from the Biden administration and Russia in their first in-person meeting on Wednesday stressed that the former Cold War foes have serious differences in how they view world affairs but struck an optimistic tone for the talks, saying the two sides can still find ways to work together.


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a veteran diplomat, and said it was "no secret that we have our differences" and that Washington would respond to aggressive acts by Russia, but the world would be safer if the two countries' leaders worked together.


Lavrov, speaking through an interpreter at the opening of the meeting in Reykjavik on the sidelines of an Arctic Council meeting, said Russia and the United States have "serious differences" but have to cooperate "in spheres where our interests collide."


Senior U.S. State Department officials said there were no breakthroughs in the meeting, but described it as a "good start" to work on relations between the two countries in "weeks, months and years to come.
Blinken said Biden wanted "a predictable, stable relationship with Russia" and said the two countries could work together on tackling the coronavirus pandemic, combating climate change, dealing with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, and the war in Afghanistan.


"We think that's good for our people, good for the Russian people and indeed good for the world," Blinken said.


The pair also discussed cyber security and Russia's troop movements on its border with Ukraine, issues that have tested the already fraught ties this year, senior State Department officials told reporters. They repeatedly insisted that the meeting was "table setting" for future talks.
Blinken said Biden wanted "a predictable, stable relationship with Russia" and said the two countries could work together on tackling the coronavirus pandemic, combating climate change, dealing with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, and the war in Afghanistan.


"We think that's good for our people, good for the Russian people and indeed good for the world," Blinken said.


The pair also discussed cyber security and Russia's troop movements on its border with Ukraine, issues that have tested the already fraught ties this year, senior State Department officials told reporters. They repeatedly insisted that the meeting was "table setting" for future talks.

Blinken, Lavrov agree to work together despite differences | Reuters

Originally Posted by sabang

I think the operative point is how Moscow will respond to ongoing provocations from the US.

The meeting has born fruit. Will the crop be ripe or be declared Grade A, B, or a shaking of head (go away)?

It appears a location and date have been agreed:

Much anticipated first presidential summit between Putin & Biden will take place in neutral Swiss city of Geneva, on June 16
25 May, 2021 14:07 / Updated 13 hours ago

"The long-awaited personal meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will happen on June 16 in Switzerland, a traditionally neutral country that isn't a member of any major military bloc.

Biden and Putin will hold a bilateral summit in Geneva, the Kremlin and White House both confirmed, on Tuesday. The city hosts many international organizations and often offers a third-party platform for various meetings.

“In accordance with the agreement reached (with Washington), the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, will hold talks in Geneva on June 16 with President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden,” the Kremlin announced. "It is intended to discuss the current state of Russian-American relations, and prospects for their further development, as well as issues of strategic stability and topical issues on the international agenda, including cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the settlement of regional conflicts."

"President Biden will meet with President Putin in Geneva, Switzerland on June 16, 2021," a statement from the White House simultaneously explained. "The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the U.S.-Russia relationship."

While it won’t be the first time the politicians will meet in person, all their previous one-on-ones happened before Biden was elected to the White House. The two national leaders have a wide array of difficult topics to discuss, considering that the US and Russia are currently at the lowest point in their relations in decades.

Showcasing the strained ties was President Biden’s remark in March, when during an interview he agreed that Putin was a “killer”. The Russian president responded by wishing his counterpart good health and citing a Russian childrens’ insult-deflecting saying that “whatever you say [about others] is what you are yourself”.

The Biden administration accused Russia of a range of sinister actions, from hacking American computer networks to militarizing the Arctic region to ‘weaponizing’ its vaccines against Covid-19 to hurt the interests of the US and its allies. Moscow says Washington is simply trying to hurt the Russian economy with groundless sanctions and political accusations because it cannot tolerate governments that pursue sovereign policies."

Much anticipated first presidential summit between Putin & Biden will take place in neutral Swiss city of Geneva, on June 16 — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

"To use a baseball analogy, Putin knows the US is not making the playoffs, it's just a regular season game that needs to be played, or the 'empire' will say he is a 'rogue'.

But I see another potential benefit as well, not just for Russia, but for the world. The possibility that Biden will completely 'crash and burn' in a face to face unassisted meeting. I wonder if they will have a press conference after the meeting."

Canuck Stani


Will the press be invited into the initial statements, à la China/ameristan Alaska FM meeting!