“A small spark is fraught with a big flame” – Kommersant FM – Kommersant

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken strengthened the ruble. After the “frank conversation” in Geneva, the domestic stock market and the national currency reacted in a positive way. The main outcome of the consultations was the State Department’s promise to provide a written response to Russian security requirements within a week. The stumbling block is still Ukraine and the prospect of its membership in NATO. Kommersant FM political observer Dmitry Drize is sure that Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden will personally put an end to this whole story.

The meeting lasted an hour and a half – less than planned, but this is not a failure, just brevity is the sister of talent. Mr. Blinken, despite the pandemic, despised the protocol adopted today and, in response to the substituted elbow of a colleague, extended his hand. Lavrov shook it with a broad smile.

Both the US Secretary of State and the Russian Foreign Minister agreed that these were not official talks, but a frank and most importantly useful heart-to-heart talk. It is believed that in Russia they love it: less all these formalities, more humanity, with an open soul, which is already there. However, the result of all this action can be summed up immediately – it does not exist.

Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is still waiting for written answers to questions raised about security guarantees. The partners agreed to present them next week – that’s, in fact, all the specifics. The domestic stock market initially declined, but on the words of Sergei Lavrov about the usefulness of “frank conversation” at the moment rose.

It is clear that neither the minister nor the secretary of state can put an end to such a complex issue, but they are able to send signals. They are as follows: positions differ, but so far no one has slammed the door, the conversation continues. Sergei Viktorovich, during his own press conference, strongly criticized the main institutions of the Western world – in particular, NATO, the State Department.

The latter can’t even write anything properly, and American journalists also got it: “I think that the State Department still needs to analyze the methods of working with CNN for fairness of information, accuracy in presenting facts. You claim that we are going to attack Ukraine, although we have already explained many times that this is not the case. Claiming that this will happen, you immediately ask: why now? When should we not attack?

By and large, there is nothing to ask about – neither the minister nor the secretary of state said anything particularly new. Mr. Blinken confirmed that, yes, the State Department will send documents, but these will not be answers to demands, as the Kremlin asks, but a list of ideas and their own concerns.

And again, Ukraine – the head of the State Department repeated the thesis about two scenarios – about a large and small Russian invasion of a neighboring republic and the same Western reaction: “We are concerned that Moscow’s actions threaten peace and security not only in Ukraine, but throughout Europe, and eventually all over the planet. I think we can continue negotiations with Russia on mutual security, but only on the condition that Moscow stops its aggression against Ukraine.”

What’s in the dry matter? Apparently, we are waiting for a short pause to take a breath. Documents from America will arrive before January 30, plus they need to be studied, comprehended, and only then commented on in detail. It is clear that the next word is for the heads of state.

With a high degree of probability, a new summit between Russia and the United States will take place. But before that, there will definitely be more picks and exchanges of blows.

The main problem is unforeseen circumstances, provocations in the Donbass, incomprehensible initiatives like the recognition of the DPR-LPR or demarches in Congress. And it is also advisable not to shoot yourself in the foot, not to bomb Voronezh and not to bring down the market and the national currency. In other words, any small spark is fraught with a big flame. Let no one want to fight, but the game is serious, and the stakes in it, as you know, are high.

Read the opinions of political observer Dmitry Drize – exclusively on the Kommersant FM Telegram channel.

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