Lavrov: Russia, US maintain unofficial communication channels for prisoner exchanges

Russia and the United States continue to maintain channels for unofficial communication, primarily for prisoner exchanges, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

According to Lavrov, in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson these communication channels are mainly used to address issues related to the exchange of prisoners, Caliber.Az reports.

He also noted that the United States has used these unofficial contacts to urge Russia to take into account Ukraine’s interests.

In the interview, Lavrov denied any signs of an undeclared war being waged by the US against Russia and Belarus, but he stated that this was not something Moscow desired.

“We would like to have normal relations with our neighbours and with the rest of the world, especially with such a great power as the United States,” Lavrov remarked. He also highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly expressed his respect for the American people.

Lavrov expressed confidence that Russia and the United States are fully capable of cooperating for the benefit of the wider world. When the journalist pointed to the US’s financial support for Ukraine, Lavrov responded by referring to the ongoing conflict as a “hybrid war.”

He added, “Ukrainians would not have been able to do what they are doing with long-range modern weaponry without direct involvement from American servicemen.”

Moreover, Lavrov revealed details of a previously undisclosed conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Ukraine, which occurred before the conflict began.

The conversation took place during the 2021 G20 summit in Italy, when Blinken’s assistant asked Lavrov to speak briefly. Lavrov stated that during their meeting, Blinken emphasized the need for de-escalation, while Lavrov clarified that Russia did not seek escalation.

Blinken responded that the aim was not a global defeat of Russia but one limited to Ukraine. Lavrov expressed hope that Blinken would not be upset by the disclosure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky recently remarked that the Budapest Memorandum had failed to support Ukraine.

By Aghakazim Guliyev