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US is ready for diplomacy with Russia on Ukraine if Moscow shows such interest – Blinken

While in Washington they do not see him, the State Department said

WASHINGTON, October 7. /TASS/. The US authorities will be ready for diplomacy with the Russia on Ukraine if Moscow shows such an interest, so far Washington does not see it, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference in Lima on Thursday. The broadcast was hosted by Reuters.

During the press conference one of the reporters recalled that earlier in the day, US President Joe Biden, in response to a TASS question, admitted the possibility of meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 or APEC summits to discuss the situation around Ukraine and similar issues.

"You said in the past that Russians are not prepared for meaningful diplomacy that is why you are not engaging in it. Right now, there are increasing concerns about the possibility of nuclear attack. Don’t you think it is the responsibility of the United States to initiate diplomacy with Russia?" the reporter asked.

"I think what you have seen in recent weeks is doubling and tripling by President Putin of Russian aggression against Ukraine. <...> the fact is that President Putin and Russia have shown absolutely no interest in any kind of meaningful diplomacy. Until they do it (show interest in diplomacy - TASS) is very hard to pursue it. We said it on and on, President [of Ukraine Vladimir] Zelensky said it on and on, that it will ultimately be resolved through diplomacy. And if and when Russia shows that it has any serious purpose about engaging in such diplomacy, we will be ready, we will be there. But every sign in this moment unfortunately points in the opposite direction," Blinken replied.

On Tuesday, Zelensky enforced a decision by the National Security and Defense Council that it was impossible to negotiate with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The corresponding decree was published on the website of the office of the Ukrainian President. Commenting on this decision, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that two parties are needed for negotiations, so Russia will wait for a change in the position of the current or next president of Ukraine regarding dialogue with Moscow.

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