Lavrov and Blinken Agree to Personal Meeting Next Week

Relations between Russia and the United States are currently tense, but next week, the heads of the foreign ministries are planning a personal meeting, reports the German magazine Der Spiegel.

Sergey Lavrov and Antony Blinken intend to meet in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, during the upcoming Arctic Summit. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the conversation scheduled for May 20 will address bilateral relations and key issues on the international agenda. Additionally, Blinken and Lavrov are likely to discuss the upcoming meeting between leaders Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.

The Reykjavik summit will conclude Iceland's two-year presidency of the Arctic Council, which will be succeeded by Russia for the next two years. The Arctic Council consists of Russia, the United States, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Canada.