In their first meeting since Russia’s invasion last year, Blinken demanded an end to the war in Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India.

The unannounced meeting lasted only 10 minutes and Marx the first time the two diplomats met face-to-face since Russia invaded Ukraine over one year ago.

Fighting on the ground in Ukraine continues—but half a world away foreign ministers from the United States and European allies urged the Group of 20 (G20) nations to keep up pressure on Moscow to end the conflict. 

Blinken called on the Kremlin to reverse its suspension of the New START nuclear treaty.

“Which places verifiable limits on the nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Russian Federation,” Blinken said.

“Mutual compliance is in the interest of both of our countries it’s also what people around the world expects from us as nuclear powers.”

Blinken also raised what he called the wrongful detention of former U.S. Marine Paul Wheelan who has been held in Russia since 2018.

“The United States has put forward a series of proposals—Moscow should accept it,” Blinken said.

“We’re determined to bring Paul and every other American citizen who is unjustly detained around the world home.”

Russia, which calls its actions a “special military operation,” hit back, accusing the West of causing the global, political, and economic crisis.

But Blinken urged Moscow to withdraw its forces as the conflict now enters its second year.

“I told the foreign minister what I end so many others said last week at the United Nations and what so many G20 foreign ministers today said today and end this war of aggression.”