US State Secretary Antony Blinken plans to talk to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shortly, he said Wednesday.
"In the coming days, I expect to speak with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the first time since the war [Russian special military operation in Ukraine - TASS] began," he said. "I plant to raise an issue that’s a top priority for us - the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner."
"We put a substantial proposal [on their release] on the table weeks ago. Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal. And I’ll use that conversation to follow up personally, and, I hope, move us [toward] the resolution," Blinken said.
He also said he intends to discuss the deal on export of grain from Ukraine, which he called a positive step forward, while claiming that there is a difference between a signed deal and its practical implementation.
He also claimed that the upcoming talks will not be talks about Ukraine, reiterating that "nothing [must be decided] about Ukraine without Ukraine."
The Russian foreign ministry said Moscow has received no requests from Washington for a telephone contact between Blinken and Lavrov. "There have been no requests, only media reports. We rely on regular diplomatic practices rather than on megaphone diplomacy," a ministry spokesman said.
