Blinken and Lavrov meet for the first time since Ukraine's Russian invasion

This is the first high-level meeting between the two countries after several months, and comes after tensions between Washington and Moscow have increased due to the Ukraine-Russia war.

American officials said Blinken and Lavrov talked for about 10 minutes in G20 conference margins.

The G20 includes 19 states and the European Union, making up about 85 percent of the world economy and two thirds of its population.

A senior U.S. official said Blinken used the discussion to talk to Lavrov on three points, such as the one the United States will support Ukraine as long as it takes to end the war, that Russia must change its decision after suspending its participation in the nuclear treaty, and that Moscow must release American arrest Paul Whelan.

The official, who spoke to reporters under the condition of anonymity, said Blinken does not expect there to be any change in Russia's behaviour in the near future.

Russia has not yet commented on the meeting, but Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Blinken had sought to speak with Lavrov.

Lavrov and Blinken last met in January 2022 in Geneva when the U.S. chief diplomat warned against the invasion. Blinken later cancelled a new meeting with Lavrov when it became clear that Russia had decided to attack Ukraine, which occurred on February 24, 2022.

Although they have not held an eye-to-face meeting, Blinken has been talking on the phone with Lavrov about a proposal to exchange prisoners.

The two top diplomats attended the latest G20 summit in Bali, which was held last July, and Lavrov left the summit due to criticism of the war the Western officials fought.

( Archive photo)