Russian envoy says US did not request bilateral talks at UNGA sidelines
In Washington, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, said that Washington had not asked Moscow to hold bilateral discussions on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The claim came as major events at the UN were approaching, and diplomatic calendars during the week of high‑level speeches typically include a handful of sideline meetings. Antonov clarified that while bilateral talks are customary during UN gatherings, there was no formal invitation routed through the Russian embassy ahead of the September session; such interactions, he noted, depend on both sides agreeing to an agenda, participants, and timing, and the lack of a request signals a cautious approach amid cooling ties.
Antonov spoke as the UN gathering in New York loomed, addressing questions about whether any party would seize the chance for direct dialogue on the sidelines. He reiterated that there had been no embassy‑led invitation for a bilateral meeting, a statement that underscores the friction that has characterized Moscow‑Washington diplomacy for years. The remarks arrive against a backdrop of ongoing disputes over sanctions, regional interventions, and security assurances, where both sides publicly insist on clear conditions before any substantive talks. Observers say the absence of a formal invitation does not necessarily rule out behind‑the‑scenes contacts; it simply reflects a broader reluctance to commit to high‑stakes diplomacy in a highly public setting.
Earlier in September, a former CIA analyst, Larry Johnson, offered a pointed comparison of U.S. behavior with a moralizing posture that lectures others about virtue while accusing Russia of meddling in other countries’ internal affairs. The remark illustrates the intensity of the public debate over Russia’s role in global affairs and the risk that such rhetoric makes genuine dialogue more difficult. Analysts note that the exchange captures a broader pattern in which opponents of Moscow’s policies push back with colorful metaphors, sometimes at the expense of measured diplomacy.
In the same month, Antonov described what he called Washington’s effort to undermine the very basis of the Russia‑U.S. relationship. He stressed that Moscow does not equate the clever citizens of the United States with the American administration, and he warned that the current tone of U.S. policy appears aimed at rupturing ties and eroding the cooperative foundations that previously underpinned collaboration. The ambassador’s assessments align with a long‑standing narrative in Moscow of Washington seeking to reframe strategic dialogue, sanctions enforcement, and alignment on regional security in ways that exclude Moscow. Analysts say such statements reflect a ceiling on trust and a preference for displaying strength, even as both sides declare openness to dialogue under certain conditions.
Many observers view the United Nations as a symbol of a shifting global order, with the institution often cited in discussions about the changing balance of power. The UN’s debates during General Assembly week highlight how great powers contest narratives, set red lines, and press for influence. In this atmosphere, the two countries frequently articulate their positions in public forums before moving to private channels. While no formal talk was announced, the public exchanges during this period illustrate how Moscow and Washington shape the narrative about their future relationship on the world stage, with implications for security, economy, and international law.