Russian Foreign Minister rules out meeting with US counterpart on sidelines of UN summit

Russian diplomacy on Friday dismissed the possibility of a meeting between Sergei Lavrov and his American counterpart Antony Blinken at the UN General Assembly in New York, as tensions between the two countries continue to grow. “No, obviously, what can we talk about with him (Antony Blinken, editor’s note) ” ? “, replied Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, curtly, when asked by the Ria Novosti agency about the possibility of such a meeting.

More than 130 heads of state and government are expected to arrive in New York on Sunday for the UN’s annual high mass, at a time when the international community seems incapable of resolving conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.

Tensions reminiscent of the Cold War

Relations between Russia and the United States are at a level of tension not seen since the Cold War and have deteriorated sharply since the Kremlin’s large-scale attack on Ukraine, which is massively supported by the United States and will be at least until the end of Democratic President Joe Biden’s term.

In addition to Ukraine, Moscow and Washington are at odds on many international issues, particularly in Asia, where Russia has accelerated a major rapprochement with China, North Korea and Iran.