
The decision marked the highest-level dialog between the 2 aspects because the invasion started.
Decrease-level interactions between two aspects had been ongoing, with the embassies in Moscow and Washington passing messages, a lot as they do with their missions on the United International locations. The ones exchanges had been in large part confined to informing the opposite facet of diplomatic expulsions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin charged Wednesday that the West is making an attempt to divide Russia via “the 5th column” and “nationwide traitors,” it seems that regarding Kremlin critics.
”(The West) now, as soon as once more, needs to copy the try to squeeze us, to position force on us, to show us right into a vulnerable dependent nation, to violate (our) territorial integrity, to dismember, in one of the simplest ways for them, Russia. It didn’t determine then, and it gained’t determine now,” Putin mentioned in a protracted emotional speech, opening a video convention assembly with govt officers. “In fact, they’ll wager at the so-called ‘5th column,’ nationwide traitors, those that make cash right here, however reside there.”
The Russian chief juxtaposed “our other folks” to Russians who “have a villa in Miami or at the French Riviera, those that can’t pass by means of with out foiе gras, oysters or so-called gender freedoms.” “That’s now not the issue, the issue is that lots of the ones other folks, by means of their very nature, are mentally there. They aren’t right here. Now not with our other folks. Now not with Russia,” Putin mentioned.