During the G20 summit in India, a clear note emerged from the State Department about the absence of bilateral engagement between the heads and senior members of the Russian and American delegations. Reporters from TASS conveyed that the two sides did not conduct direct talks or formal meetings. The spokesperson underscored that there was no interaction between Lavrov and Blinken. He stated that while it is possible that someone may have exchanged a casual greeting in a corridor, there were no substantive exchanges of substance or policy discussions between the teams (TASS).
In related remarks, Blinken had previously signaled confidence that the summit’s statement on the Ukraine crisis would not be weak or ambiguous, framing the position as strong and deliberate within the broader discussions taking place at the gathering (State Department statements; corroborated by multiple briefings).
Meanwhile, Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Federation Council, commented on the final G20 declaration. He argued that the document highlights the West’s failed anti-Russian initiatives and marks a success for the international community in gradually reshaping the global agenda away from Ukraine. Kosachev suggested that the African Union’s involvement at the summit could bolster the influence of the global majority, complicating efforts to push issues that serve Western interests alone (Kosachev statements, official channels).
Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry reported progress on negotiations related to grain supplies, noting the completion of talks on the processing of one million tons of grain held in Turkey. The update indicates ongoing coordination on dispassionate logistics and food security arrangements, with Turkey positioned as a strategic hub for moving grain to destinations in need (Foreign Ministry communications).