LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken held transient – very transient – talks along with his Russian counterpart on the sidelines of a gathering of G-20 nations in India. It is the primary face-to-face assembly between the diplomats since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine greater than a yr in the past. NPR’s Charles Maynes joins us from Moscow to debate this assembly. So, Charles, how sudden was this? Can I name it a gathering if it solely went 10 minutes?

CHARLES MAYNES, BYLINE: Properly, you understand, officers from each international locations insisted Blinken and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov had no intention of talking to at least one one other on this G-20 assembly, solely to finish up having a 10-minute trade, as you notice, that Russia’s overseas ministry spokeswoman characterised as requested by Blinken and carried out on the transfer, which means it was impromptu in between periods. Now, as you notice, this was the primary face-to-face trade because the struggle began. They’ve primarily been ducking each other at ministerial conferences all over the world over the previous yr. So 10 minutes is not a lot, however I suppose it passes for progress as of late.

FADEL: However what really might have been achieved? I imply, the connection between the U.S. and Russia is so dangerous proper now. Even the handshake earlier than the assembly appeared fairly awkward. Do we all know what Blinken and Lavrov mentioned?

MAYNES: Properly, it appears as if this was about Blinken eager to ship a message. This trade got here amid an already acrimonious gathering of those G-20 ministers during which divisions over Ukraine dominated proceedings. We haven’t any phrase on Lavrov’s response, however no shock, in keeping with the State Division, Blinken advised Lavrov the U.S. remained steadfast in its assist for Ukraine’s sovereignty. I believe there is a sense in Washington that Russia believes it might outlast any U.S. dedication to Ukraine for the easy cause that Russia believes the U.S. will transfer on to the subsequent new factor. You realize, whereas Ukraine is a core concern to Russia’s safety pursuits, for sure, that place in Moscow would not give a lot heed to Ukraine’s personal safety wants.

FADEL: Properly, talking of safety, nationwide safety, one other concern was Russia withdrawing from a nuclear arms management treaty it had with the U.S. Did that come up?

MAYNES: Yeah, you understand, Blinken urged Russia to rejoin the New START nuclear arms management treaty, from which Moscow formally suspended participation this week. President Putin – Vladimir Putin, in fact, introduced he would droop Russia’s participation in a state of the nation deal with to Parliament final month. Now, New START is the final remaining arms management treaty between the 2 nuclear superpowers. The 2 sides actually have been bickering over inspections that have been initially suspended in the course of the COVID epidemic, however now have gotten caught up on this fallout over Ukraine. Russia’s made very clear it hyperlinks resumption of the treaty with the U.S. backing off in Ukraine. The excellent news right here is that Moscow is suspending participation whereas desiring to abide by the treaty. However in fact, there is not any approach to confirm any of that anymore. And there are lots – there’s not an entire lot of belief on both facet to take action.

FADEL: Now, Blinken additionally pressed once more for the discharge of Paul Whelan, an American the U.S. says is wrongfully detained in Russia on espionage fees, proper?

MAYNES: Yeah. You realize, simply to step again, the U.S. has wished Whelan as a part of this prisoner trade that we noticed final December after we noticed the discharge of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner.

FADEL: Yeah.

MAYNES: She was exchanged in the long run for Russian arms supplier Viktor Bout, however Russia refused to incorporate Whelan in that deal. Now, in keeping with the State Division, Blinken advised Lavrov there was one other supply on the desk and urged Moscow to take it. What that is likely to be or who in trade is likely to be for, we simply do not know. However clearly, it is a sign from Washington that Whelan shouldn’t be forgotten.

FADEL: NPR’s Charles Maynes in Moscow, thanks a lot.

MAYNES: Thanks.

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