Photo: A frame from the video
Telephone talks were held between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. This was their first face-to-face conversation since February 24, 2022.
The press service of the State Department reports that the parties discussed the exchange of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner, as well as the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports. In addition, Blinken threatened Russia with new sanctions if new “Ukrainian territories” become part of it.
Earlier, Lavrov said that a telephone conversation with Blinken should take place when he himself would be “in his office.” At the same time, he added that it is unlikely that the call will take place on Friday.
Prior to that, the official representative of the US State Department, Ned Price, said that Washington had requested a conversation between Blinken and Lavrov. Moscow has confirmed receipt of the request.
Meanwhile, the DPR began to create a commission to prepare for a referendum on joining the Russian Federation. There, the plebiscite procedure will take place simultaneously with the LPR.
In addition, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporozhye region, said that according to preliminary data, a referendum on the status of the region may take place in the first half of September. He clarified that it is quite possible that the referendums in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions will be held synchronously, on the same day.