Antony Blinken set to meet with Russian counterpart next week in Europe


Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accepted an invitation to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with the conference likely to take place late next week in Europe, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday.
The meeting will take place "provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine," Price clarified. "If they do invade in the coming days, it will make clear they were never serious about diplomacy."
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said there is evidence Russia is not, as the Kremlin has claimed, withdrawing its troops from the border with Ukraine, but rather "moving toward an imminent invasion." It is a "crucial moment," she added, and the goal of the United States is to "convey the gravity of the situation."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. began warning in January that Russia might use a false-flag operation to launch an invasion of Ukraine, and during an address before the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Blinken shared several scenarios that might come up, such as the fabrication of a "so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia, invented discovery of a mass grave, a staged drone strike against civilians, or a fake, even a real attack using chemical weapons."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU party
Speed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users