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Ukraine conflict: New negotiations between Russia and the USA in Geneva – Politics

After massive diplomatic efforts, the US and Russian foreign ministers have arranged a meeting on Friday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. Tony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov want to talk in Geneva about the Russian threats against Ukraine and about the demand for far-reaching security conditions. As the US State Department announced in Washington, Blinken will arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday and is expected in Berlin on Thursday. In addition to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and other representatives of the Federal Government, he will also speak to the Foreign Ministers of France and Great Britain.

The announcement from Washington ended a day of hectic diplomatic efforts, during which not only Baerbock met the Russian foreign minister, but also a phone call between Blinken and Lavrov prompted the impromptu meeting in Geneva. High-level diplomatic circles in Washington were cautiously optimistic, but renewed their threats should Russia launch a military offensive against Ukraine.

New sounds can now be heard from Moscow

The new Russian tone had already emerged after Lavrov’s meeting with Baerbock. Lavrov repeatedly stressed that negotiations would have to be held to resolve the conflict. In doing so, Russia backed away from its demand that the United States and its allies in Europe sign two treaties unconditionally and meet Moscow’s far-reaching security demands.

Blinken had already planned a trip to Kiev and Berlin to coordinate next steps with the Ukrainian leadership and allies in Europe. Originally, the US side had promised to send a written offer about possible negotiations to Moscow by the end of the week. It was initially unclear whether this offer is now obsolete. The US State Department said it would wait for Friday’s talks in Geneva and then make a decision.

The visit to Berlin serves to integrate the European allies. The US reiterated that it would not take any decision on NATO or Ukraine without being in agreement with its partners. When asked whether the split position of the SPD cast doubts on Germany’s determination, the State Department said that Germany had clearly positioned itself in all of the Allied statements. There is no doubt about the determination.

The Minsk peace process is on the agenda

It is becoming increasingly clear that the shattered peace process for the Donbass, the so-called Minsk process, is now taking center stage in the negotiations. Lavrov made it clear to Baerbock and apparently also to Blinken that he considers the Ukrainian government to be the author of provocations in the east of the country and demands that the USA call President Volodymyr Zelensky to order.

In Washington, it was seen as a positive sign that Lavrov was now involved in the crisis and was conducting the talks himself. So far, his deputy Sergei Ryabkov has been the diplomatic face of the crisis. In the last round of negotiations a week ago in Geneva, he showed no possibility of movement. Lavrov’s appearance now shows that diplomacy might not be hopeless after all. From the Russian side there was initially no assessment of the new round of negotiations. In Washington it was pointed out that the signals were still contradictory. It is too early to speak of relaxation.

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