20 Sep 2026
Blinken says meeting with Lavrov is off
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a planned meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva this week, he announced Tuesday, CNN reported.
"Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time," Blinken said at the State Department on Tuesday. "I consulted with our allies and partners—all agree."
His announcement comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine as independent and announced he would deploy "peacekeeping" forces there.
Blinken said he sent a letter to Lavrov on Tuesday to inform him of the decision.
He added, however, that the US remains committed to diplomacy.
Latest news
Latest newsUS Sanctions Target Russias Main Pillar as Moscow Faces New Pressure on Oil Revenues
19.Sep.2026
Russia Begins State Duma Elections Amid War in Ukraine
18.Sep.2026
Bulgaria Strengthens Protection of Strategic Infrastructure Against Drones and Other Threats
18.Sep.2026
Georgia and Enka: How the Namakhvani Dispute Could Affect the Investment Climate
17.Sep.2026
Una Aleksandra Bērziņa-Čerenkova: After Russia’s Invasion, Latvia Began Banning Russian-Language Media
17.Sep.2026
Rainer Saks: Russia сould lose its influence in Armenia, just as it did in the Baltics
16.Sep.2026
Russian Drones Violated Moldovan Airspace Twice During Zelenskys Trips
16.Sep.2026
Operation Vivaldi: Ukraine Reports Advances Near Lyman as Fighting Intensifies
16.Sep.2026
Kazakhstan and South Korea Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
16.Sep.2026
Armenia Energy Diversification: Testing the Limits of Dependence on Russian Gas
15.Sep.2026
Tbilisi Distances Itself from Brussels as Kobakhidze Intensifies Criticism of European Policy
14.Sep.2026
Russia Fuel Crisis Gives the US a New Diplomatic Leverage Tool
14.Sep.2026
Trump Calls on Zelenskyy to Stop Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure
13.Sep.2026
Ukraine Expands Pressure on Russia’s Shadow Fleet: Moscow’s Oil Logistics Under Threat
13.Sep.2026
The Riga Conference: Europe Prepares for Long-Term Confrontation with Russia and Reshapes Its Security Architecture
12.Sep.2026