Zakharova denied the discussion of the exchange of Whelan in a conversation between Lavrov and Blinken

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken did not discuss the release of American Paul Whelan. About it stated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in her Telegram channel.

“Oh, how interesting. Clarified with Sergey Viktorovich [Лаврова]whether Blinken brought up Whelan yesterday. It turned out that the US Secretary of State did not even stutter about this. Everything that the State Department said yesterday about Blinken expressing concern about the situation around the US citizen is a lie. Incredible behavior of the American administration,” the statement said.

The day before, on March 2, Zakharova reported that a small conversation “on the go” took place between Lavrov and Blinken. According to her, the conversation was initiated by the American side. Any negotiations between Lavrov and Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 summit could not take place, as Washington relegated diplomacy to the background, noted she.

Later at the US State Department reportedthat the conversation was short, it could not be called a full-fledged bilateral meeting. According to State Department spokesman Ned Price, during this conversation, the United States touched upon the suspension of Russia’s participation in the Strategic and Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty, and also discussed the need to end the conflict in Ukraine and the issue of a prisoner exchange.

Lavrov and Blinken both took part in the meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers, which was held in India on March 1-2. Earlier, Reuters, citing sources in the Indian government, reported that New Delhi does not want sanctions against Russia to be discussed at meetings of the club of states.

Paul Whelan was detained in Moscow at the end of 2018 on suspicion of espionage. The defense argued that the American was the victim of a provocation. Whelan himself pleaded not guilty. He is currently serving a 16-year sentence in a strict regime colony in Mordovia. In the USA many times notedthat Washington is negotiating with Moscow to release Whelan.