A report indicates that a scheduled meeting between the top diplomats of Russia and the United States, Sergei Lavrov and Antony Blinken, is not on the agenda in New York during UN Security Council proceedings. The claim comes as both nations remain immersed in ongoing diplomatic frictions and visa-related tensions that color their interactions on the global stage. The absence of a planned bilateral session was stressed by observers and officials closely tracking the UN calendar, underscoring the sensitive nature of current U.S.-Russia relations and the broader international context in which these discussions would occur.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov clarified this stance before the Russian delegation departed for New York. He stated that there is no ministerial-level agenda at the moment for talks with American counterparts. The remark reflects a cautious posture on both sides, aimed at managing expectations while the diplomatic atmosphere remains highly charged and guided by strategic priorities rather than routine engagements.
Ryabkov went on to note that the absence of a Blinken presence at the UN headquarters at the expected time would be a factor, but he emphasized that if conditions change, they would respond accordingly. He warned that should the situation worsen, especially in relation to visa refusals for Russian journalists, Russia would transmit signals about what he described as an anti-Russian course. He stressed that any response would be calibrated and directed at those involved in Russian political affairs in the United States. The message, as he framed it, is that Moscow will not remain silent in the face of what he termed hostile moves and will respond in a manner that aligns with Russia’s diplomatic stance and national interests, with the aim of protecting its information sovereignty and access for Russian media. [Citation: Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, remarks ahead of the New York visit, highlighting the lack of an imminent ministerial meeting and warning of possible retaliatory signals regarding visa policies and media access.]