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At least 2 killed, 7 injured as Russia pummels Sloviansk, regional military chief says
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to keep away from showing in any official group photographs with Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov in the course of the G20 overseas ministers assembly in Bali this week, and can intention to rebut his Russian counterparts false narratives in regards to the Ukraine struggle, in keeping with a US official accustomed to the matter.
For weeks, the US and its G7 allies — all of whom are within the G20 — have been discussing learn how to method Lavrov’s presence on the conferences of the world’s 20 largest economies in Bali, in keeping with US and European diplomats accustomed to the conversations.
Many alternative concepts have been mentioned, together with UK officers testing the waters on utterly boycotting the conferences, however that technique was finally not pursued, a UK official stated.
Blinken shouldn’t be — as of now — planning to partake in any staged walk-out with allies, US officers stated. A part of the calculation is that the Biden administration desires to problem Russia, not cede the ground to them, the official stated.
One other a part of the calculation is the truth that the US doesn’t need to embarrass the Indonesians who’re internet hosting the occasion, the official stated, describing it as a “delicate balancing act.”
The US desires to be seen as appearing in unison with G7 allies, diplomats stated. Issues may change nonetheless, because the US continues to be “nice tuning” its method and must react primarily based on what occurs in the course of the conferences, the official stated.
This would be the first time Blinken and Lavrov have been in the identical place since Russia invaded Ukraine, and Blinken’s method to his Russian counterpart may foreshadow how President Joe Biden would possibly method President Vladimir Putin later this yr if the 2 leaders attend the G20 leaders summit.