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Top US, Russian Diplomats to Meet in Iceland

VOA News

   U.S. Secretary of State AntonyBlinkenand Russian Foreign Minister
   Sergey Lavrov are set to meet Wednesday on the sidelines of the Arctic
   Council ministerial inReykjavik, Iceland.

   It will be the first face-to-face meeting for the top U.S. and
   Russiandiplomats andcomes at a time of heightened tension between their
   countries. The meeting will also set the stage for a planned summit
   next month between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir
   Putin.

   The U.S. State Department said Wednesday afternoon's session "will
   provide an opportunity to test the proposition of whether we can
   achieve a relationship with Moscow that is more stable and
   predictable."

   Blinkenon Tuesday urged the global community toavoid militarizing the
   Arctic.The United States has previously accused Russia of requiring
   foreign ships to seek permission to pass through the region and to
   allow Russian maritime pilots to board the vessels while threatening
   violence against noncompliant ships.

   "We've seen Russia advance unlawful maritime claims, particularly its
   regulation of foreign vessels transiting the Northern Sea route, which
   are inconsistent with international law,"Blinkensaid at a joint media
   briefing with Iceland's foreign minister.

   Blinken'sremarks came a day after Lavrov warned Western countries not
   to claim rights to the Arctic.

   "It has been absolutely clear for everyone for a long time that this is
   our territory, this is our land," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow. "We
   are responsible for ensuring our Arctic coast is safe."

   As climate change accelerates the melting of the Arctic's ice sheet,
   the Arctic becomes more accessible.

   In recent years, Putin has made Russia's Arctic region a higher
   strategic priority, raising tensions with Arctic Council members over
   its investments in military infrastructure and mineral extraction.

   The United States has recently been at odds with Russia over Moscow's
   jailing of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, Russia's buildup of military
   forces near Ukraine, and a cyberattack on the largest U.S. gas pipeline
   by hackers believed to be in Russia.

   Russia says its government was not involved in the cyberattack. It has
   accused the United States of trying to interfere in its domestic
   issues, including the jailing of Navalny.

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