Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Moscow Says Still Ready for Ukraine Talks With Blinken

By AFP
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. U.S. Department of State

Moscow said Tuesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was still ready for talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine's two separatist regions.

"Even during the most difficult moments... we say: we are ready for negotiations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in remarks aired on YouTube.

"We are always in favor of diplomacy," she told the Soloviev Live YouTube show.

She spoke after Putin recognised the independence of the former Soviet state's separatist-held Donetsk and Luhansk regions paving the way for the deployment of a potential invasion force.

Lavrov had said on Monday that he was set to meet with Blinken on Thursday in Geneva to address soaring tensions over Ukraine.

Moscow's move triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union.

Read more about: Ukraine , Russia , Diplomacy , Conflict

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more

'blame-shifting'

China Denies Asking Russia to Delay Invasion Until After Olympics

Beijing has taken a cautious line over the actions of its close ally.
air assault

Battle Underway for Airbase on Kyiv Outskirts

"Then there was shooting, it lasted three hours."
reactive training

Ukraine Stages Drills as NATO and U.S. See no Russia Pullback

Ukraine's President watched troops training with some of their new Western-supplied weapons.
DIPLOMATIC AMBITIONS

Ukraine Says Diplomatic Solution More Likely Than Russian Attack

The statement came after the U.S. said its intelligence showed Moscow was preparing a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.