US-Russia talks on Ukraine ‘helpful’ but no progress | US foreign policy

[ad_1]

Emerging from a day of negotiations in Geneva over Ukraine’s fate, US and Russian diplomats described the talks as “helpful” and “very professional” – but also emphasized that they had made no progress toward resolving fundamental differences.

The two sides largely spend today’s talks presenting their views on the situation in Ukraine, which is currently blocked by about 100,000 Russian troops, and on European security in general, deferring further discussion of it to a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday between Russia. and all NATO members.

“We had useful discussions and useful exchanges today that should help define our way forward,” Wendy Sherman, US Deputy Secretary of State and leader of the delegation in Geneva, told reporters after the day of the talks.

“The conversation was difficult, long, very professional, deep and concrete, without attempts to embellish or smooth out sharp corners,” said her Russian counterpart, Sergei Ryabkov.

Ryabkov said: “We left the impression that the American side took the Russian proposals very seriously and studied them in depth.”

interactive

Sherman also noted the Russians’ willingness to negotiate, saying that they discussed “things that are not Russia’s priority.”

She said that issues of mutual restrictions on military exercises and missile deployment were discussed, but the United States ruled out, as a matter of principle, the idea of ​​ensuring that Ukraine would never join Ukraine, stressing that the decision is the country’s sovereign right. .

Ryabkov emphasized that Russia had made no progress in achieving its main goals, such as securing a pledge by the United States that NATO would no longer accept new members such as Ukraine or Georgia, but also said the talks were “not hopeless”.

He said both sides are looking forward to the upcoming NATO-Russia Council meeting on Wednesday as a testing ground for whether Russia can reach a new arrangement with the security alliance.

He repeated Russia’s denials that Moscow was planning to attack Ukraine. He said that all Russian troop movements were taking place within the country’s borders, and “there is no basis for concern about an escalation in this regard.”

When informed of his remarks, Sherman responded, “They can prove that they, in fact, had no intention of [to invade] By de-escalation and returning troops to the barracks.”

“If Russia veers off the diplomatic track, it may be quite clear that they were never serious about pursuing diplomacy,” she said. “And I said it clearly to Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov – Russia as a tough choice to make.”

More details soon…

[ad_2]