“Now that we see the invasion is starting and Russia has made transparent its wholesale rejection of international relations, it does now not make sense to head ahead with that assembly presently,” Blinken mentioned. “I consulted with our allies and companions — all agree.”
Blinken’s announcement comes an afternoon after Russian President Vladimir Putin known two separatist areas in Ukraine as impartial and introduced he would deploy “peacekeeping” forces there. US President Joe Biden and best US officers mentioned Tuesday that Putin’s strikes marked the start of a brand new Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Biden introduced a primary tranche of sanctions in reaction.
Blinken mentioned he despatched a letter to Lavrov on Tuesday to tell him of the verdict.
He mentioned the USA stays dedicated to international relations “if Russia is ready to take demonstrable steps to give you the global group with any stage of self assurance it is occupied with deescalating and discovering a diplomatic resolution.”
Now their assembly is off, a cancellation that indicators the Biden management now not believes that Russia is in any respect occupied with pursuing international relations. French International Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian additionally introduced his assembly with Lavrov that were scheduled for Friday would now not happen.
Blinken spoke on the State Division along Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who additionally met with Biden and Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington on Tuesday.
This tale is breaking and can be up to date.