Blinken Intends Discussing Nord Stream with Lavrov

The heads of foreign affairs agencies from Russia and the United States agreed to meet on May 20 on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council (AC) in Reykjavik. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will discuss bilateral relations and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the ministerial session of the Arctic Council, a high-ranking State Department spokesman said, TASS wrote. "I believe that this topic may arise in bilateral negotiations. We, like the Congress, have very clearly expressed our attitude towards Nord Stream 2 and stated that this is the Russian strategic project that undermines European security, European energy security," he said. The State Department noted that Washington is not seeking escalation but is simply "looking for more predictable, stable relations with the Russian Federation." Blinken is visiting Denmark, Iceland and Greenland from 16 to 20 May. The AU ministerial meeting will take place in Reykjavik this week. Recall, the United States intends to resolutely protect its citizens, as well as national interests in response to Russia's malicious actions that harm the United States and its allies, said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.