US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a short conversation today during the ongoing G20 meeting in India.

As an unnamed U.S. official told Politico, the conversation between the diplomats lasted approximately 10 minutes.. This is the first time Blinken and Lavrov have spoken in person since Russia started the war against Ukraine.. A US official said Blinken used a short conversation on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi to deliver three messages to Lavrov..

First, the United States will continue to support Ukraine in defense against Russia.. And American support will last as long as it takes to end the war.. Secondly, Russia should resume its participation in the START III agreement. And thirdly, Moscow must release the imprisoned American Paul Whelen.

The interlocutor also added that Blinken " Also, the Secretary of State, after a conversation with the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, had the impression that Moscow's behavior would not change in any way..

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Politico recalls that Blinken and Lavrov have only had one contact with each other since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine..

They had a phone call over the summer to discuss the American release from Whelan's Russian prison and WNBA star Britney Greener.. In December, the US traded imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for an American basketball player.. However, the Kremlin still keeps Whelan behind bars, accusing him of espionage.. Blinken last spoke to Lavrov personally in January 2022 in Geneva, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.. Then the US Secretary of State warned the Russian diplomat that Moscow would face serious consequences if it decided on unprovoked aggression..