Ed. Note: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commence talks in Geneva. This video contains only the opening statements where the press was allowed. At approx. time marker 6.35, the opening statements are over and there is nothing of value in the rest of the video. The Saker Blog will continue updating here for the rest of the day and there will be transcripts.
Update: 1.5 hours and Lavrov is doing his presser. It’s done for today. The presser is still live at this time.
Lavrov comes in swinging – directly on point.
Blinken comes in waffling – with an incredibly lame attempt to ‘muddy the waters’.
The information that Lavrov refers to has been commented on by Maria Zakharova here:
⚡️ #Opinion by Maria Zakharova:
💬 The US Department of State has released a “fact sheet (https://www.state.gov/fact-vs-fiction-russian-disinformation-on-ukraine/)” exposing what it presents as a Russian disinformation effort on Ukraine.
There is no way to describe some of the passages from this document other than blatantly deceitful and silly. For example, they call fiction Moscow’s claims that the repositioning of its combat forces on its own territory (sic!) is a mere repositioning of troops on its own territory. What a masterpiece!
Even better, the United States claims that “there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians or Russian speakers being under threat from the Ukrainian government.” But was the way Ukraine’s Interior Minister Avakov talked (https://tvzvezda.ru/news/201407261035-e3fn.htm) to Roman Naumov from the Channel Five network not a threat? Avakov said: “I will tell my people to seek you out in Moscow and bust your brains out, the way we do it to those bastards over in Lugansk. Tell your … network that you, Russians, should watch your backs.”
This happened in 2014, but these were just early days. When he referred to “his people” he meant the punitive divisions Azov, National Corps, and Centuria. By the way, the patches these “people” wear on their uniforms mimic the SS symbols.
The Department of State believes that Russia is not being encircled by NATO bases, and no one ever promised that NATO would not expand to the east. The US diplomats came up with a brilliant way to prove this: by claiming that Russia’s land border is just over 20,000 kilometres long, while of that total just 1,200 kilometres is shared with NATO members. Out of the 14 countries with which Russia shares a land border only five are NATO members. How can you call this an encirclement if you always have a way out?
I will not even bother trying to understand whether these are outright lies or just ignorance. One thing I know for sure: only the Ministry of Truth could have released such a fact sheet.
https://t.me/MariaVladimirovnaZakharova/1726
@ amarynth
“…Biden comes in waffling – completely on a different course.…”
Did you mean, Blinken? Just FYI.
Lone Wolf
Thanks for that Lone Wolf. Fixed! (It is early in my world and the coffee machine has just burbled :-)
Let me go and wake up!
You’re quite welcome.
I didn’t think Biden would be up at that time.
Enjoy your coffee!
Lone Wolf
Three cups of cappuccino……4 shots a cup…that’s the ticket!
Obviously these guys live in a different world, one made for and insured by them, and according to them, the kids are alright.
. . . . and are insulated from the Public by the bought & paid for Presstitutes as they glide through the revolving doors into the Twilight Zone.
” Tell your … network that you, Russians, should watch your backs.”
Well, duh. No way are the Ukrainians going to attack Russians from in front, are they? Most of them aren’t suicidal.
“The Department of State believes that Russia is not being encircled by NATO bases…”
That is true, strictly speaking. I am not aware of any American bases in the oceans north and east of Russia (not for some considerable distance, anyway).
What is definitely true is that Russia is as close to being encircled by American bases as Washington has been able to manage.
Had things gone as planned, there might soon be several in Kazakhstan.
It’s on the level of Monty Python’s dead Parrot skit…
“FACT: NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states.”
This is more like fiction or should I say notorious lie. Ask US officials how NATO was defending their members by bombing these countries: Serbia/former SR Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya… Defensive alliance ?!?!?, seriously!
Did someone just blink and learn something?
What does the arrest of the 2 Americans got to do with the security guarantees of Russia??Sergei must be dumbfounded ..
Is this a riddle? I’ll admit I dont have a logical response.
That was clearly thrown to save face, and idiotic too. One thing is what was said in front of cameras, another entirely different is what was went on after the media got out of the room. Or so one hopes…
The first statement out of Blinken’s mouth talks about Russian aggression in Ukraine. This, the guy whose boss, Joe Biden, fomented the fascist coup against the legally elected government in Kiev. It’s obvious that he’s incorrigible.
Lavrov could not be more clear: pull your finger out and give your reply to our proposals IN WRITING. That’s all we expect from this meeting. That’s all that we ask for: YOU REPLY, IN WRITING.
Blinken: “The bottom line is this….[waffle][waffle][waffle][waffle]…. thank you for being here”.
He’s just a blithering idiot, isn’t he?
And the sad thing is that he is probably the most talented one on the USA side of that pantomime.
Blinken, in an exemplary summary, addressing strategic security architecture …
———-
UHM
I also want to say Sergey that UH
we UH
need to talk UH about two US citizens, Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed, UH
who were tourists in Russia UH
were arrested UH
… and we again ask Russia to do the right thing and UH
let them come home.
But the bottom line is this UH
This is a critical moment UHM
You’re right UH
We don’t expect to resolve out differences here today but I do hope and expect that we can test whether the path UH
of diplomacy UH
and dialogue UH
remains open. We’re committed UH
to walking UH that path and resolving our differences UH
peacefully UH
and I hope we can test that proposition today UH
and see where we go from here.
———–
» In short, a dilettante and a liar, hoping to derail the discussion with Paul Whelan and to wing his way through the conversation «
Adjacent issue that may be happening in Ukraine. The problem for America is that the dollar is based on oil, not gold, since nixon you can’t have a country with 21 trillion debts losing its dollar. The oil scheme is bought and sold in dollars. Iran, Turkey, Russia and China have now started moving away from the dollar and using different money will bankrupt America faster. So they have to do whatever it takes to protect the dollar. The other thing with Ukraine is that it’s called the bread capital of Europe because of the wheat grown there. America is heavily invested in GM crops with Monsanto. Russia will not touch GMO food, it is prohibited. If America can control Ukraine, GM food will be grown there and from pollination it will spread to Russia. The Ukrainian is blind. This has already happened to the German people in World War II. The Ukrainian people seem to be naive and are buying Nazi ideology to their death:
1.) Western MIC needs a war to sell its stuff. They always need “a war” somewhere. No matter the reason, they will invent one. Don’t be a fucking idiot and throw it into your hands.
2.) West ALWAYS feared and worked against the idea of a united Slavic people. Read about pan-slavery and who and why opposed it. And are you using your runes and symbols?
3.) Don’t be jealous of people in the west and just think because they pretend to be your friend to get 1.) and 2.) that you are really one of them? You will never be one of them. For Westerners, your women will always be your whores, and you will never sit at their table. Of course, they like you dying fighting the Russians, because they hate you as much as the Russians do. Westerners cannot tell a Russian from a Ukrainian. Unfortunate.
Monsanto is already in Ukraine with GM crops. The Russian government knows about it. No doubt they already have biosecurity in place.
I apologize that this is slightly off-topic, but I was wondering if the good old handshake is again en vogue? I noticed that Ryabkov and Sherman also shook hands. So this globalist gesture, this awkward silly elbowing, is to disappear or what is going on here?
Here’s a reasonable protocol of the meeting itself:
One and a half hours total – 15 minutes. for mutual greetings, 10 min. for protocol seating at the negotiating table, 10 minutes for opening speeches, 10 minutes for a timeout after opening words, 5 minutes for serving tea and light snacks, 15 minutes for tea drinking, five minutes for farewell words, expressions of “respect” for each other.
We respectfully agree to collect up the terrorist military litter you just left behind.
So, we have an answer. When asked if Russia will publicly announce this answer, Lavrov said he’d like to, but he will have to consult Blinken.
Expect the US answer made public by the end of the day.
the details reveal the truth. I see fear at the table of the genocidal “free equal genders” Saxons. They think they are modern. How much mediocrity and artificiality. The Imperio really lives by selling scams to the planet. I see fear in the eyes of “perfect and egalitarian democracy”. Yes, they are cowards and bluffers. But I see confidence in the Russians. The Russians have the naturalness and confidence of those who have the truth on their side.
Your not being serious are you about the “Saxons” comment are you? The Democratic Party is the Black Lives Matter-AIPAC-ADL Party…
in fact the “Saxons” are still the largest ethnic group in the US. The largest ethnicity in the US is the Germans. Secondly, Spanish Latinos, of African descent. This racial, multicultural mix is destroying America. And this has eluded Ukrainian thinkers. In fact it is paradoxical that the Ukronazists like the mixed USA. And indeed you can see the great nervousness in Blinken and mixed-genre advisors. They are actually winding up time. They want to get rid of problematic Ukraine, and use Ukraine as bait. Russia is not at all interested in “owning”, that is, supporting Ukraine, which is the responsibility of its western overlords. In the worst case scenario, if Ukraine launches a major offensive against Donbas, Russia will use air power, Kaliber, Khinzal, Iskander, anti-radiation missiles and drones to neutralize Kiev’s air defenses and impose a humanitarian corridor between Ukraine’s army and the Donbas – a page out of the NATO Libya playbook, if you will. The defenders of Donbas and Lugansk are a more than capable ground force, if supported by Russian air power, to defend themselves. Uke’s army is a joke. The soldiers with their female soldiers will defect once Zelensky starts the war. This is a civil war and Zelensky will be eliminated and the people will revolt against the Nazis! Putin is watching the US/NATO Empire slowly kill itself. The army of Ukie recruits and female soldiers with flowers in their hands will defect faster than Saddam’s recruits in the Gulf War. Donetsk and Lugansk don’t have large armies, but Kiev now does. Russia is not equipping Donetsk and Lugansk like the US and US vassals are equipping the Nazis. So now the Nazi army is much, much stronger and would easily crush Donetsk and Lugansk. Russia’s approach to all of this is to warn the junta in Kiev that Russia will intervene if it tries to take Donbass by force. The US is trying to throw Ukraine under the bus, it just doesn’t want the expense of running the country. flying arms to Ukraine is a futile exercise unless you just want more arms sales. The Russians will simply destroy them on the ground before they can be used, if it comes to that. So it seems to be all “sound and fury” from our friends at NATO, who enjoy these short 35,000-foot wars, no matter what chaos they unleash; but they loathe anything that might harm one of their soldiers, who apparently exist only to push buttons and set up airfields for the Destroyer’s use.
Those who have spent their whole lives sucking the blood of others will not want to give up the habit, of course. He will have to be convinced to this. Nor is it worth trying to guess: we will have news soon. Everything in life has a price, the important thing is to be decided.
TASS is reporting a written agreement in the coming days…
Delay, delay, delay. Hard to believe Russia keeps putting up with these neocon stall tactics.
Russia will take no unilateral action before February 20, the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Petri, it appears they’re going to be forced to. Zionazi scum is relentless, with no letting up in sight.
Yes I think so also. After the end of Olympic Winter Games in Beijing is the moment to do some one-sided actions defend the sovereignity of the Russia Federation.
Boycott me once, shame on me, boycott me once, and you wont get another chance.
They may not have a choice if the Kiev morons take their own action against Donbass.
Here is Blinken’s presser. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7roE595MmbU
Summary from RT telegram channel:
Be very clear, Russian Aggression Against Ukraine is the western mantra. Now if people will only understand that it is the very same as Weapons of Mass Destruction or Gassing His Own People. Blinken is doing the old thing, accusing Russia of what they themselves are doing.
I see no difference in tactics from the western climes.
I watched the video you linked to. He’s such a bold-faced liar. It’s almost as though he feels like he’s chosen. Baiting the Russians and then threatening them with economic warfare. I can’t see Russia tolerating that. There will be blowback.
Also he reminds me of Martin Short and I never found MS to be funny. Even worse than the video was trying to sift through the comments below it. Yuck. Couldn’t stomach it.
Suddenly Iran has entered the thread.
It was December when Russia sent written notification it required written security guarantees.
There was NOTHING about Iran in and if that, or anything in the earlier discussions between Rybakov and Sherman, or with NATO.
Raisi visits Putin and addressing the Duma, and now suddenly Ratface includes Iran and JCPOA as part of the negotiations.
I feel like whirling dervish trying to keep up, chasing the moving discussion points.
[BTW Amarynth, thanks for getting all this up so fast.]
I’d welcome comments from native Russians about what, to me, seemed like a jarringly inappropriate use by Blinken of minister Lavrov’s Christian name when addressing him – and especially so when, in the opening sentence in which he used it, he went on to accuse Russia of aggression. I’m not sure of Russian sensibilities about such things but most nationalities have long established and instinctive protocols about this sort of thing.
I would be most surprised if minister Lavrov is not offended by such faux-familiar behaviour, particularly in such a formal and serious setting even though I know that he is far too polite and gentlemanly to say so.
To me it came across as further evidence of the US side’s crass juvenile ignorance.
It would be deliberate.
Intel agency type psychological tactics to try and get a Pavlov response from Lavrov😀
It won’t work against Lavrov, of course.
But Team Russia will have noted.
Lavrov is out front on camera. But there is a whole team working on this.
And Russia does not have diversity hire practices
The conventional wisdom is that we’re headed for a second Cold War with Russia.
I disagree. We’re flirting with a hot war.
It could involve nukes. Billions of people could die.
Just like before the Iraq War, there is a pro-war lobby pushing Biden to attack Russia.
They want to put together a “coalition of the willing.”
Russia will be attacked if it does not surrender the territory it acquired in 2014.
The call for war is not coming from fringe people in lonely corners of the internet.
That op-ed is from Obama’s deputy assistant secretary of defense.
She says that we should, “if necessary, prepare for war” with Russia.
Under what conditions would war be necessary?
If Russia does not end its “illegal occupations” of Ukraine and Georgia.
In other words: Russia must respect our version of international law, or we attack.
The problem is that the territory Russia acquired in 2014 includes Crimea.
The Russia hawks claim that is the problem: because we let Putin have Crimea, now he’s demanding more.
They want to “roll back” Russia from that territory, “even at risk of direct combat.”
This is a far more aggressive strategy than the U.S. pursued during the Cold War.
America primarily employed a “containment” strategy, as I described in my thread on George Kennan.
It never tried to “roll back” Russia inside the Soviet Union itself.
In this instance, direct combat could easily escalate to all-out nuclear war.
From Russia’s perspective, this new “coalition of the willing” would be invading its homeland.
The Kremlin views Crimea as just as much a part of Russia as Moscow.
My summary of the Russian government’s attitude towards the territory is not an understatement.
It is informed by my time as a Visiting Researcher at MGIMO, where I had the opportunity to speak to Russian officials and strategists.
Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that war advocates are correct that their anti-Russia coalition would have conventional superiority.
The question is whether Russia would use nuclear weapons to defend its territory.
It is the official policy of the Russian federation that certain conventional attacks deserve a nuclear response.
Specifically, Russia has retained the right to use nuclear weapons against conventional attacks that threaten the existence of the state.
In response to a succesful invasion, Russia could interpret this policy as allowing it to use nuclear weapons to defend Crimea.
The technical legal criterion would arguably be met – and, even if it weren’t, the policy could be stretched.
It is useful to consider what the U.S. would do under similar circumstances.
Imagine if Russia invaded Texas and defeated the U.S. military conventionally.
Would we give up our land? Or would we use our most powerful weapons to defeat the hostile occupiers?
There are other scenarios, short of a U.S. attack on Crimea, that could also spark nuclear war.
Russia is already threatening to deploy forces to Venezuela and Cuba.
The goal would be to impose costs on the U.S. comparable to the NATO threat in Ukraine.
This would effectively be a repeat of the Cuban missile crisis.
Most people have no idea how close we came to global nuclear war during the original crisis.
It was a fluke that the planet wasn’t destroyed.
This time we might not be so lucky.
When the Soviet Union deployed missiles to Cuba, America imposed a “quarantine” of the island.
It didn’t matter that Moscow was responding to U.S. missile deployments in Turkey and Italy.
The Navy was authorized to attack any Soviet ship that refused to be searched.
On its own, that evidence would be enough to make us take the risk of nuclear war seriously.
But there is an added dimension of urgency due to probability theory and computer models.
They discredit the main argument “debunking” nuclear war.
What is that argument?
It’s that, because prior crises with Russia didn’t trigger nuclear war, this one won’t either.
Here is a typical, obnoxious example of this line of thinking. “We didn’t die then, so we’ll be safe now.”
It neglects the fact that global nuclear war is an existential risk.
A danger that threatens the existence of all humans cannot be evaluated using standard intuitions about probability.
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-ukraine-russia-chinese-government?fbclid=IwAR3hBGyMBwBmQvhS0cVPuJipckQ4T6yq1UdJtF7_Y2k7nyYjdrIZtO6lPEI
The US plan for an Afghanistan inside Europe
by Manlio Dinucci
The United States themselves announced that they could do in Ukraine against Russia what they had organized in Afghanistan against the USSR. Incidentally, it will be noted that the role attributed in Asia to the Islamists of Osama Bin Laden would fall in Europe to the neo-Nazis of Maidan Square.
fr only for the moment, en version will be out later
https://www.voltairenet.org/article215387.html
The West’s Weapons Won’t Make Any Difference to Ukraine
U.S. military equipment wouldn’t realistically help Ukrainians—or intimidate Putin.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/21/weapons-ukraine-russia-invasion-military/
RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 20 JANUARY 2022
https://patrickarmstrong.ca/
“Most people have no idea how close we came to global nuclear war during the original crisis.
It was a fluke that the planet was not destroyed.
But there is an added dimension of urgency due to probability theory and computer models.”
I see that too. The context of the world pandemic, of a virus started in the enemy China, now contains a tension with two nuclear braves. And the western bully thinks of making a false flag. It is not possible to be sensible, and serious person, without realizing it!
Blinken has just publicly dismissed (not rejected) the main Russian demand – to stop/reverse NATO enlargement and block Ukraine’s access.
You noticed. So did I.
Compared to Lavrov, Blinken is just a dull and obnoxious child…Lavrov is an intelligent adult Man. The problem is the obnoxious child Blinken has his hands on nukes…
The late Henry Adams had some interesting things to say about Anthony Blinken’s ancestors….as did the great English Poet William Blake…
So “Blah Blah” which the Russians said at the start of all these diplomatic sessions last week was unacceptable from the US and NATO (they did not want the US to drift off topic (security guarantees) and talk and talk about other things), yet, this whole meeting was set to discuss everything but what the core Ultimatums address.
These are like contract negotiations in a big business deal. The lawyers insert volumes of boiler plate while the nuts and bolts of the deal only require a few pages carefully drafted.
The US is publishing boiler plate.
Russia waits with the nuts and bolts.
One reason for Russia to accept such meetings is there is a lot of time to fill before Russia wants to take action. Since the Olympics don’t end until Feb 22, that’s a lot of room for boiler plate.
The question will remain, regardless of the Blah Blah. Will the one page of security guarantees ever get written and signed (even initials will do)?
Considering the steel trap Putin wrote in the Minsk 2 Agreement, I doubt the West will agree to anything, ever.
Just look at the lineup of State Dept officials at that table. It was Khazarian Tribe, and they regard Ukraine as Zion #2. If you have ever met any of these people and talked to them about Russia, you will know that the obsession they hold against Russia is molecular, deep into the cellular structure of their psyche. They are totally irrational about Russia and Ukraine.
Russia has been encircled with US bases, US bioweapons labs, and now they are tying to encircle with cruise missiles. Everyone is thinking SWIFT is the big weapon they will use. I think they will unleash biological weapons. As they have already in Central Asia, attacking the food supply (animals and crops).
While the US opened the Blah Blah to a variety of topics, Russia should put the biolabs on the agenda. These are time bombs, far more dangerous than NGOs.
It was in the discussion when CSTO moved into Kazakhstan, but then nothing was done about the biolab there.
Warning: put nothing past the US. They are psychotic about Ukraine and Russia.
Tokayev didn’t allow Russia to guard the biolab but its closed and the staff took a US jet and flew home. Hopefully they took the race specific and small pox viruses with them.
I would greatly appreciate a source on this ????
absolutely, as always you have nailed it. i don’t know how the russians go about defusing these labs. yes, they can & no doubt shall include several clauses regarding their being dismantled bt the U$A lies & will simply build bigger better…so russia must have a way of tenting & shutting these labs down, an antidote. a missile might simply release the damage. please, those informed in this area, share your knowledge.
@Larchmonter445
“Russia should put the biolabs on the agenda.”
Any news on ghosted biolab in Kazakhstan?
Yes, indeed your analysis is absolutely correct about the bio labs, which are an immediate threat to Russia and to all of humanity as well.
Entirely predictable. Joe Biden, Antony Blinken (an ignoramus and political lightweight) and the ruling elite they represent are enraged the Russia-China-Iran axis has achieved military/economic parity (superiority) with the West and view this axis as an intolerable obstacle to US global power. To ‘pour more salt’ on the proverbial wound, I suspect they are furious about the developing ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and China. I suspect the Pentagon hopes to place tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The US response needs to be considered within the context of the accelerating decline of late-stage American capitalism which has progressed to the point where its very survival is contingent upon constant debt monetization (aka money printing) to prop up financial markets and the military. This is becoming increasingly tenuous as this orgy of money printing and debt has created gigantic bubbles in every asset class- ‘everything bubble’, increasing inflation and threatening to derail the dollar’s role as world reserve currency and viability of western capitalism. What options do the US ruling/economic elite have? If they stop money printing, the entire American empire will collapse. After expending so much human and financial capital, it has proven very difficult for the Pentagon to extricate itself from ongoing conflicts as doing so is an admission of failure and by extension military weakness. This will not end well.
“The US response needs to be considered within the context of the accelerating decline of late-stage American capitalism” says everything and sure is a frightening thought. This is a structural crisis, it is not cyclical, it is here to stay. Let us hope that the imbecilic bunch at the helm in the west are as incompetent as they seem but not too imbecilic to do something as stupid as using nukes. As to nuclear tips, I hope I am not mistaken, but they seem to be irrelevant if you can not move them faster than supersonic speed. That seems obvious but then again, there is a lot of cognitive dissonance in the imperial axis. Either way, dissent will eventually catch up in the west, people will rise up and take over their masters but not without pain and misery. Where I am from, people are taking Russian language classes. Everything from engineers, geologists, humanities, finance. I am myself doing that and had an interview lately for a job in Western Siberia. Mandarin will be next.
“The US response needs to be considered within the context of the accelerating decline of late-stage American capitalism” says everything and sure is a frightening thought. This is a structural crisis, it is not cyclical, it is here to stay. Let us hope that the imbecilic bunch at the helm in the west are as incompetent as they seem but not too imbecilic to do something as stupid as using nukes. As to nuclear tips, I hope I am not mistaken, but they seem to be irrelevant if you can not move them faster than supersonic speed. That seems obvious but then again, there is a lot of cognitive dissonance in the imperial axis. Either way, dissent will eventually catch up in the west, people will rise up and take over their masters but not without pain and misery. Where I am from, people are taking Russian language classes. Everything from engineers, geologists, humanities, finance. I am myself doing that and had an interview lately for a job in Western Siberia. Mandarin will be next.
After both sides listened to each other’s statements, Blinken dashed out of the conference in a highly agitated state. Summoning his script writers back at the hotel he demanded to know how he might keep a straight face when delivering this steaming pile masquerading as facts. Vicki Nuland was called to intervene and calm him down, even calling on a doctor to sedate him.
Update – On checking in on Blinken every 4 hours his physician found he’d escaped his bed restraints, tied his bedsheets together and had scaled the balcony for his escape.
Latest update – The whereabouts of Blinken remains unknown. Reports of sightings are being investigated by Interpol. The public have been warned not to approach him, he’s unarmed but still highly dangerous. One report sights him at the Russian Embassy in Geneva requesting political asylum.
Blinken is toast. He put his foot way up his ass, at about the beginning of the 4 minute mark. Wrong answer dude.
Originally, the USA promised a written response by this past Wednesday (the 19th).
Now it is being pushed back to next week.
Soon, this written response will be promised by sometime in the next century.
As the Americans like to say, the check (or written security guarantees) is in the mail! Honest to God! (Suckers)
In this perilous moment, where are the Nobel Prize winners? Where are the real artists and philosophers? The overwhelming majority on the payroll of the Zionist Saxon Empire. We don’t have artists and philosophers in the world today. All delirious with a dollar bill in hand. Just a minority in the parallel, alternate world. Albert Einstein had already warned, in 1948, of the advance of fascism in Israel, of the powers of the Zionist fascist manipulators. Einstein was against the atomic bomb, and against the Zionist Menachem Begin. At least apparently. As Einstein’s letter explains, Menachem Begin was one of the leaders of Herut, the far-right Zionist party at the time, in Palestine. Begin was also a member of the Irgun, a terrorist paramilitary organization and, as such, one of those responsible for the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which killed 91 and injured 45 more. In 1973, the same Menachem Begin helped to build the alliance of several right-wing, conservative and liberal parties, which adopted the name of Likud (Fusion). In 1988 Likud became a political party. Therefore, today everyone sleeps anesthetized in Western nihilism!
Some commentators suggest that Russia will wait until the end of the Olympics to act. I’m wondering – why should the West go along with this? What if they stage a major provocation during the opening – as in 2008 – or at any time during the games? Two birds with one stone as it were…
Exactly. It’s been done twice before. You remember the Goldfinger quote: “Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action”?
Russia will never ever attack the zionist empire anywhere. China wants to do business with the empire. Nothing else matters. At least Lavrov didn’t waste much time in small talk
To me, their statements and the photograph shows that, 1, blinken got away with his pourpose, showing to the world a smiling couple while bla blaing as usual. It only took to him playing a joke that Mr. Lavrov could not resist laughing.
And 2, that Mr. Lavrov also got away with his pourpose.. meaning, doing time. It is the only reason I can find since, for everybody it was expected the bla blaing, which is really insulting, considering the seriousness of the topic but, showing a smiling face with this results it can only mean that the meeting was abolutelly irrelevant. It might be important to just keep on doing time since both parties have already decided what will they do in despise of what is shown in public.
My hope is that Russia be contundent in her doings.
I started listening to Blink. but I stopped because I was too disgusted by the usual repetition of lies, and continued with Mr. Lavrov’s briefing. I did not know that Zel. had defined the two separatist republics as “specimen” …. and I wonder how it will be possible for him to change 180 degrees to start a serious discussion with them. Zel. is a convinced banderist.
Regarding America’s insistence that Russia is not being encircled by NATO military bases (which Maria Zakharova references), this assertion is yet another example of what the United States does best: half-truths deployed to promote an All-America Lie.
Russia is being encircled NOT ONY by NATO military outposts but also, more importantly, by American military outposts.
In general, America has military bases in over 100 “sovereign” nations around the planet. Indeed, the precise number of US military bases is not quite known but numbers in the several hundred–and likely higher.
Put another way, there are more nations in the world that are occupied by the America war machine than there are nations that are not occupied by the America war machine.
These military bases are the steel tentacles of the American Empire, which America apologists and media propagandists of all political stripes try to downplay or rationalize:
“As distinct from other peoples, most Americans do not recognize — or do not want to recognize — that the United States dominates the world through its military power. Due to government secrecy, our citizens are often ignorant of the fact that our garrisons encircle the planet. This vast network of American bases on every continent except Antarctica actually constitutes a new form of empire — an empire of bases with its own geography not likely to be taught in any high school geography class. Without grasping the dimensions of this globe-girdling Baseworld, one can’t begin to understand the size and nature of our imperial aspirations or the degree to which a new kind of militarism is undermining our constitutional order.”
America’s Empire of Bases
https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dludden/America's%20Empire%20of%20Bases.htm
Russia has re engineered the trebuchet. Hypersonic, stand off, way off, weapons. Fleets, bases, worldwide, all targets. Defenceless. Hope to hell we never have to find out, if Lavrov starts smiling at Bluffkin, all bets are off….
Cheers M
More precisely, the number of US bases is generally put at 800 inland units (army and air-force) plus 400 coastal bases, but this does not detract from your highly relevant points.
A couple of observations
1. Blinken seemed very anxious at the press release after the talks, uncomfortable body language, very uncertain in his communication
2. Lavrov seemed matter of fact and at ease
3. Everybody knows one cannot rely on anything the US press or government officials say, so I’m not counting on any written feedback, and judging from Blinken’s behaviour, I think he’s going to have a tough time when he gets back home, they NEED to create conflict, so no, there is not going to be any diplomatic easing of tensions. Quite the contrary
4. Earlier this week a whole slew of USA navy ships with amphibious vehicle carriers and bombers, cable repair (total of 22 ships) plus 6 submarines, 4 with nuclear weapons, have headed in the direction of Europe from the us east coast and some from the westcoast to I don’t know where, It is thought by some that they will try to either retake crimea, and or land at Kaliningrad. If Crimea option, it is said guided missile destroyers would be sent to Aegean Sea and into the Sea of Marmara. where they would strike russian military vessels. (I personally think that’s rather far fetched, my understanding is Crimea itself is well weaponized and could handle any assault)
5. Blinken was rude and undiplomatic as usual, and as Hal turner pointed out, they hardly looked at each other.
6. For me it looks like both sides are procrastinating, or pretending to procrastinate. we gonna see in the next few weeks. meantime I’m prepping. Glad I live in a rural agricultural village, wood stove, everybody has a productive garden most have chickens, lots of goats and some dairy cows and pigs, geese and ducks around. Fabulous yoghurt, many different culture strains. Very happy I moved here 15 years ago!
I love Lavrov, Putin and all the Russian diplomats and military, nerves of steel. they got!! Imma sitting here chewing my fingernails to stumps, living as I do in Bulgaria. Many of us regular people wish Nato would find something nicer to do.
Margie luv, don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing, just the smell burning flesh for half a second.
It is fair to write this ongoing back-and-forth between the U.S.-NATO and Russia is going to end badly unless a higher authority intervenes on behalf of all the people across the planet.
As much we would like to plead our case before God as Moses did on Mt. Sinai, that’s not going to happen. The global nations of the world have a forum to resolve these types of conflicts and yet we hear crickets from the UN General Assembly or the SECGEN (Office of the Secretary-General).
UN Charter – Article 11, items 3 and 4
3. “The General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council to situations which are likely to endanger international peace and security.“
4. “The powers of the General Assembly set forth in this Article shall not limit the general scope of Article 10.”
See: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text
Here we read in the charter the broad authority of the UN General Assembly. It is incumbent upon the SECGEN to step up and call attention to the dangerous situation in Eastern Europe by convoking a special session of the august body politic as provided for in Article 20.
One of the chief responsibilities of the SECGEN is to be actively involved in matters that threaten the safety and security of UN member States even if it is unpopular with some of them.
“The Secretary-General would fail if they did not take careful account of the concerns of Member States, but they must also uphold the values and moral authority of the United Nations, and speak and act for peace, even at the risk, from time to time, of challenging or disagreeing with those same Member States.“
See: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/the-role-of-the-secretary-general .
However the sitting SECGEN has allowed himself to be influenced by the U.S. in violation of Article 100, item 1.
1. “In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization.”
The SECGEN should demand a meeting with the U.S. SOS (Secretary of State), with NATO in Brussels, with the Nazi-controlled government in Kiev and with the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow. He should offer mediation or arbiter services between the adversaries so a military conflict does not become a reality that threatens the future of humanity.
The current SECGEN has to be more than a political appointee or a social worker; he needs to demonstrate to the General Assembly that leadership takes courage and cannot be passive when the survival of Planet Earth is in jeopardy.
Excellent point. Thanks for calling our attention to the useless, emasculated authorities at the UN, who have nothing to contribute to World Peace. Their concern is their salaries, their privilege positions as international dignitaries, their cushy jobs, at risk if the US threatens to withdraw UN funding.
Keep on poking, pal, you’re on the right track.
Lone Wolf
There is no neutrality. The United Nations (UN) is a farce, an arm and hand of the Zionist empire. It’s the “good cop”.
A make-up and tentacle of the Empire.
Looking at the hand postures and eyes, that top vid shot looks very much like Blinken in submission and Lavrov in command, but a single shot may not tell the story.
this stood out for me too.
he couldn’t meet Lavrov’s eyes during photo-op handshake.
Sullen and agitated a lot.
Lavrov in contrast stood chest expanded in anticipation, like Zed being presented his favorite Gimp.
Smells like Khazarian teen spirit!
There is a lot unsaid going on; it is not mere wasting of time.
I cannot help wonder – there may be a submission behind the scenes, similar to Kerry traveling to Kremlin as Sec of State with briefcase locked to his wrist..
You do not invite and get short notice acceptance from the Russian MoFA for a mere tête-à-tête..
But no snakes get to wiggle away this time
And sent Khazarians to assume the position, to add to humiliation of these warmongers!
And they MET the Friday 48 hour deadline.
Written papers given, then smoke blown in cameras? Permitted by Russians as a concession?
Perhaps we will know all about it in a few decades, like the 1962 Jupiters in Turkey.
This really made my day, am I dreaming too much?
as long as the russians have had enough of the west’s provocations and the chinese are being increasingly demonized as well once the olympics ends in late february perhaps the russian and chinese leaderships will coordinate a response together.
russia “”acts””” upon it stated security goals in europe at the same moment china acts on its goal across the straits.
a two for one which the west collectively can not begin to respond to in any meaningful way.
in 1-3 weeks if that long its all over but the op eds in the nyt’s wailing which no one of importance wll read or care.
the current world order is at least somewhat overturned, fast and clean.
begin in late february and by the ides of march in terms of hegemony the current roman empire is for publicity purposes over in the eyes and minds of the planet.
Is it possible the chosen people are moving their head quarters to the new location, China. Russia and Europe are reversing roles of that under the ussr. Russia will become, of course along with China, economically prosperous nations. Europeans will be in immigration line for economic opportunity in Russia. Russia, they figured, large and very rich in resources and can absorb a lot of Europeans. Russia couldn’t become European, Europe will become part of you. China on the hand, can use all Russia can export from resources. And it has all the potential combined riches of the west. Of course this would be very slow, long term, two to three hundred years plan, invasion of Russia from within. Russia has to be very careful. One has to think like a devil to figure out what they are up to. After all they very patient and have the stamina. Look what we are going through now. It has been slow cooking since WWII. It took Anglozaxon over hundred years to destroy the Ottomans. At the same time, they said it will take another hundred years to destroy the Islamic countries. Look at the the Arab world today. What is the hurry there is a lot on “our plates” to keep us busy for couple hundred years.
To think logic with sane people would make sense and ultimately would reach a solution or understanding. But we can’t use logic with insane. I don’t believe 330 million people can only come up Biden and blinken or Trump and Pompious or Obama and John and Lillary or shrub and colon and the bang birth of new ME and so on.
The USA empire thinks it can keep its captive domain (vassals) for business as usual and have a good share of demand for the dollar. Any sane person would know that no body can defeat Russia in a direct war. Even Trump knew it and I believe Biden knew it too, and any general worth his stars will confirm that. Look at Russia where it was 1990 and now. Compare it with the same period for the west.
@ Larchmonter445 on January 21, 2022
“So “Blah Blah” which the Russians said at the start of all these diplomatic sessions last week was unacceptable from the US and NATO (they did not want the US to drift off topic (security guarantees) and talk and talk about other things), yet, this whole meeting was set to discuss everything but what the core Ultimatums address…”
——————–
Diplomacy is the art of killing with an stiletto, and Lavrov is a master at that.
There is always the option of using a sledgehammer, preferred way for many who lack the subtlety to understand the intricacies and nuances of political diplomacy.
There is a difference to the “Blah Blah” today that Mr. Bhadrakumar (Indian Punchline), a veteran diplomat, has managed to explain in detail. First of all, Blinken called for this unscheduled meeting, not Russia. Second, Blinken is working hard at presenting a united facade, when it is obvious, given the statements coming from Eurostan (France, Germany, et al), there are cracks in their “united” front.
https://www.indianpunchline.com/blinken-delays-us-response-to-russia/
There is a lot more happening than we can see from here, however, we can be sure capitals in Eurostan are not sleeping well while two batallions of S-400 and Russian trains are running day and night to Belarus. Blinken is looking more and more like a desperate man, Lavrov knows how to wait, which points to stick the stiletto, and how to break idiots like Blinken.
Live and learn…
Lone Wolf
One can not but admire the patience by Lavrov in these meetings. Imagine to have to listen to the same old crap detached from reality day in and day for years by people like Blinken and he’s likes. And you know that absolutely nothing constructive will come out from them, a complete stillborn! That is really amazing!
The Iranians showed no fear of retaliation when they bombed the US airbase in Iraq last year, The Iranian attack on the Al Asad airbase numbered 16 short range missiles and featured the short range Qiam-1 of which 11 were on target, they hit the targets they were meant to hit, the Iranians gave the US advanced warnings enabling US forces to evacuate valuable aircraft and personnel to safety and shelter. Maybe the Russians [I’m sure they have] better ideas on how to respond in a non kinetic way to US non compliance with Russian demands, in that attack only 100 US personnel got headaches with no lose of life??
Prior to these talks, Zelensky’s smarmy face had never been out of the news. He appears to have been neutered by the US while these discussions take place.
Poor saps believe the US will bring Donbass and Crimea back.
The Right Sector will lynch his sorry ass as soon as ZATO forces complete their withdrawal . . . . and they will once the Energy Transit hub runs dry.
In a moment so critical for the well being of humanity, it is refreshing to know that there is Canada…
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/canadian-led-battlegroup-in-latvia-at-high-readiness-amid-nato-russia-tensions/ar-AASZ2U9?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531
The clue to NATOS potential performance lies in the “hope” that everyone will communicate well, when most NATO members have english as only their second language. Theres that brilliant advert by a language institute where a German is given the task to listen to radio-traffic from shipping. He hears “Im sinking, im sinking” but he responds by saying “Im thinking too”
These translation errors are called “False-Friends”…
…and NATO allies are in practice all ‘false friends’ as they only do this for pay, not out of conviction.
Russians all speak the same language – and are also on the same page as regards their mission.
I remember that Berlitz commercial (“What are you sinking about?”). I think it had more to do with phonetics, since German and many other European languages don’t have the TH sounds that English does.
Russia has already informed the Empire of the range of military and technical responses it could make. We have all been speculating, but Washington knows.
NATO knows which measures Russia can take if its initiatives are turned down — diplomat
https://tass.com/politics/1389307
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, from a Monday interview in Kommersant newspaper.
The Russians are deluding themselves into thinking this can be resolved diplomatically. They should attack immediately.
Attack what…you are joking? Seven wars in five years, and win them all, win any, try and win, never mind, that’s delusion.
Cheers M
Reading the comments on today’s ‘discussions’ between two diametrically opposed camps, it comes to mind that everyone has forgotten what started this civil war and why. We in Sevastopol were ‘lucky’ in that the orcs figured out real fast that if they opposed us they would die. The ‘polite young men in green’ did not appear until days after our revolution and appeared at the request of the newly installed people’s local governments. Here’s what really happened to cause all this screaming and hair pulling:
The coup d’eta in Kiev in ’13-early ’14, which my tax dollars (I still paid US taxes back then, I don’t now as all my business ain’t there anymore) paid 5 BILLIONS for, had one goal and one goal only, which was to make this huge village of Sevastopol the base for the American Black Sea Fleet, pure and simple. American Navy and Marine officers were already in Sevastopol and in Feodosya on the south coast for several years and had mapped out where the US Black Sea Fleet HQ would be (at the west terminus of Ulitsiya Bogdanova, the main drag on North Side) and had actually started renovations on the two main schools, Gymnasium #5 and School #40, off Ulitsiya Simonok (Simonka). The entire west end of North Side was to be Little America, going from Rahdio Gorka (Radio Hill) district on the north side of the harbor mouth all the way north to the village of Lubimovka along the main north/south road and all the way down to The Sea and the best beaches in this village. All the locals were to be put out (including us). School #5 (entirely different location from Gymnasium #5) at the west end of Bogdanova was to be the location of the actual HQ and the large Spetznaz Base next to it was to be flattened for additional buildings for HQ.
Now, some history. In 1953 Krushchov gave the administration, and ONLY the administration, of The Federal City of Sevastopol and The Autonomous Republik of Krimea to Ukraine SSR. Krimea and this city have been Russian since 1783 when Ye’katarina Bolshoi got tired of the Turk and Tatari slaving raids up in to what is now Ukraine (it was then ‘Malo Rus’) and tossed the Turks out and put the Tatari down. When Soviet Union fell apart in the early ’90’s and was but a shadow of what it was Kiev decided, with ‘outside help’, that they owned this city and this island. That went over like a lead balloon with the locals who considered themselves Russian and there were constant skirmishes over several years between the locals and the Ukes in administration, some not very peaceful but no one got dead or badly injured.
Come the coup d’etat in Kiev, the very next morning after the success of the coup the two ‘leaders’ of the coup, Oleg Tyagnibok, a sitting member of the Uke Parliament and leader of Svoboda (Freedom) Party (an avowedly Nazi party who cleaned their party website 5 days after the coup…too late, it was of course copied) and Viktor Yarosh, the leader of Pravi Sector (Right Sector, another avowedly Nazi party who also waited too long to clean their web site) had a live interview on Channel 5 in Kiev, owned by Petro Poroshenko, the ‘new president’ of Ukraine and current President Prospective of Orcland, at 09:00. In that interview, carried live and in living color, they both stated many threats to the locals here including these and in exactly these words: ‘We will bring our five thousands of fighters from Maidan and make your streets run red with blood as we teach you how to be proper Ukrainians.’ and ‘We will put every Russian to the knife and swim in your blood.’
Our neighbors, and we, poured out in to the streets of our sleepy little North Side and the fear in the women’s faces was obvious. This fear turned to rage as the men joined the crowds. By early afternoon there were 40 thousands of citizens gathered in and around Nahximov Square in City Center on south side for a mass meeting. In this meeting the citizens disavowed the coup d’etat and the illegal ‘new’ government of 404, seized the government of Sevastopol and elected by voice vote a local and respected businessman as the new mayor of the city. The next morning the same thing happened in Simferopol, the capitol of Krimea. Unarmed citizens then blockaded all the Ukrainian bases and ships with their physical presence. The foreign military were told, on the evening of 24 February 2014, to leave Sevastopol, this by the new mayor. They refused. By dawn of the next day they were gone. (If you want to know what happened to them, read ‘Incident On Simonka’.)
SehSha stood back and watched in stunned silence as all their carefully planned operations came to naught. It was but days later that the fighting started in Novorossiya and goes on to this day.
Auslander
Author http://rhauslander.com/
An Incident On Simonka paperback edition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1696160715 NATO Is invited to leave Sevastopol one way or the other.
Never The Last One, paper back edition. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521849056 Never the Last One: a Novel of Spetznaz, opens your eyes to the Russian world not described in American news or fiction.
This comment by Auslander should be ‘pinned’ as the authoritative, first person history of what went down in Sevastopol and Krim.
Note well that Auslander has been formally, publicly honored as a distinguished citizen in Crimea. He and his wife took arms and took action to defend their lives and the Federal city from the nazis of Kiev.
You can search but you won’t find another more detailed history of the uprising and return of Krim to Mother Russia.
My dear friend, Auslander, has been the one constant reliable source of factual information regarding Crimea and Donbass for eight years. He stood at the barricades, he assisted the rescue of women and children from Donbass combat zones and transported them to Sevastopol, he’s buried the dead, and he’s kept the secrets that need to be kept secret, while informing us right there in the heart of the battlespace.
I salute him again. Proud of our friendship.
Larchmonter, my very close friend and even closer comrade, how do I reply to this? My charming bride and I were but small cogs in the wheel of fate that put us where we were when we were and allowed us to do what we had to do. This city is OUR city and if you threaten it or the citizens we will stop you in your tracks like you hit a brick wall and we and our local comrades are that brick wall.
Those poor refugees, women and children only, from the fighting in Novorossiya, we had no choice but to help them. The two groups totaling 11 women and children we lost out of the over 120 we got out, all I will say is they have been avenged.
Auslander
You are so right Auslander – the bloody coup (to quote Mr Lavrov today in his press conference) in Ukraine was to take control of Crimea and US/NATO have a naval base there. That is why the West just won’t let it go. Turkey was deeply involved too.
I also remember following everyday at the Saker (his old site) and RT (which was excellent back then) what was happening and I think in addition to what you have correctly stated above, Yanukovich, whilst he was still legally President gave permission to Russia to help. Also, Ukraine has never had its borders ratified/agreed (after the illegal dissolution of the USSR) with the CIS/Russia and the UN et al are all aware of this but continue this fake/lies about Crimea and Ukraine’s borders/sovereignty. Serbian Girl also did some research and mentioned it here at the site – Crimea wasn’t included in the Ukraine when it became a member of the UN. Another fact overlooked by the desperate US and its lackies.
I would also like to thank you for all your updates during those awful days and the help, humanity and kindness you and your wife showed to so many fleeing the hellish Donbass war where the Nazi hordes and Ukie Army were murdering so many. God bless you and your family.
Thanks for the detail,i had heard some of that information before,you just confirmed it for me,i read the Americans had plans drawn up for the base in Sevastopol,also that the US had marines on board ships off the coast planning to secure the area once the coup was complete,would there be any truth in that? what worries me is the lunatics in Washington thinking Russia would tolerate that.
Englishman,
Yes, SehSha had Marines ready to go in. They eventually fluttered on away after realizing the reception they would receive.
Auslander
Auslander
Here’s the RAND corporation report into what happened in Crimea. [source:Rand.org]
Key Findings
Russia’s Operation to Annex Crimea Represented Decisive and Competent Use of Military Force in Pursuit of Political Ends
Russia was able to seize the territory of a neighboring state with speed and mobility.
The political maneuvering on the peninsula during the invasion suggests that it may have been launched without a predetermined political outcome in mind.
Russia likely sought to seize Crimea, and then evaluated its political options depending in part on how the intervention was received at home and abroad.
Russia’s Operations in Crimea Benefited from a Series of Highly Favorable Circumstances That Makes It Difficult to Replicate
These included political, historical, geographical, linguistic, and military advantages in the region that have only partial analogues elsewhere in the former Soviet republics.
The confined geography of the peninsula, the proximity of Crimea to Russia, and its existence as a separate political unit within Ukraine gave Russia leverage.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was nearby, with legitimate transit routes that could be leveraged for a covert operation.
Russian Leaders Are Likely to Consider Eastern Ukraine to Be a Strategic Success but an Unsuccessful Operation
Russia’s efforts in Eastern Ukraine proved to be a series of improvisations in response to resistance and friction when the initial political warfare effort foundered.
The lessons of Eastern Ukraine are rather mixed, demonstrating the limits of low-cost asymmetrical approaches even against a relatively weak and vulnerable state.
Russia achieved its primary objectives but at a much higher cost than desired and through a fitful cycle of adaptation.
White Whale
Would that I could write fiction like those overpaid and under cognizant minions at Rand. What they wrote is pure propaganda which in reality is what they are paid to write.
I will not waste the time to take apart this ‘report’ line by line, but if any of them actually read this, kindly note that the Russian Black Sea Flot has been based in Sevastopol since 1783. They can do the math (mayhap they should use a calculator for accuracy, something lacking in their scribblings) as for how long this is, but it should be obvious to even a roadkill dead rat that The Flot was not ‘nearby’, is was parked all around the harbor of our wonderful little village of half a millions citizens and patrolling constantly around our little island.
Auslander
Here’s my take:
Last week the US promised a written response to Russia about Russia’s treaty proposals.
Blinken then said a couple days ago that he would not be bringing a written response to Lavrov about Russia’s treaty proposals.
This Friday Blinken said the US will give Russia a written response which is NOT about Russia’s treaty proposals but about “US concerns”.
In short, absolutely nothing was achieved at this meeting. But everyone is so desperate for a sign that there isn’t going to be a war that this meeting is being spun as an “improvement.”
I might also add that Blinken isn’t even relevant to the situation. He’s just a front man, like Biden himself. The real actors are the CIA and the neocons and the Uki nationalists and everyone who is behind them. And they’re not playing by anyone else’s script except their own. This is what you get to do when you have all the power and everyone else is for sale.
In both Lavrov’s opening statement and in his subsequent presser he pointed out that the meeting was not called to make any decisions or to receive any written response from the USA.
It was what it was: a meeting called by the Americans so that they could clarify some points in the Russian proposals that they felt needed to be clarified before submitting a written reply.
The Russians said “yeah, sure” because in all honesty the Russians are a polite people.
But they are also firm. They allowed the Americans to pose their questions, and they answered them. The USA now has to take that, mull over it, and write their response.
The Russians aren’t going to let Blinken wriggle off this hook.
Nonetheless, the US promised a written response for this week and it was not delivered.
Here is Lavrov’s new warning about this situation:
Lavrov warns Blinken about consequences of ignoring Russia’s concerns – ministry
https://tass.com/politics/1391731
Quote:
“It was made clear to Antony Blinken that further ignoring Russia’s legal concerns, first of all, those linked with the United States’ and its NATO allies’ advance in Ukraine amid the large-scale deployment of the alliance’s forces and weapons near our border, will have the most serious consequences,” it said.
“It can be avoided if Washington positively responds to our draft agreements on security guarantees. We expect to receive the American side’s written article-by-article response next week,” the ministry said.
End Quote
Note the specification of “article-by-article”.
Note also that they specify “advance in Ukraine” as an issue along with NATO expansion. That latter specifically ties Ukraine to the overall issue of NATO expansion and indirectly references the constant arms supplies to Ukraine ratcheted up just in the last few weeks.