Blinken, European Troika: Coordination needed to deter Russian 'aggression' against Ukraine
2 Min Read
Several files, most notably Ukraine, the nuclear agreement, and the elections in Libya were discussed.
-
Blinken and his counterparts discussed their shared "concerns" about the pace of progress in Iran's nuclear program.
US State Secretary Antony Blinken spoke with his French, German, and British counterparts in a joint telephone conversation about several files, most notably Ukraine and the nuclear agreement, the US State Department said.
In a statement, the Ministry said the concerned parties discussed the importance of continuing coordination to deter any further Russian "aggression" against Ukraine and affirmed the consensus between allies to "hold Russia accountable for such actions," renewing their firm support for Ukraine.
Moreover, Blinken and his counterparts discussed their shared concerns about the pace of progress in Iran's nuclear program with little time left for Tehran to return to the JCPOA.
Vienna Talks
On Wednesday, talks were held in Vienna between Iran's lead nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, and representatives of Germany, Britain, and France, as well as the EU envoy, Enrique Mora, on the issue of lifting the sanctions on Iran.
Last Tuesday, European negotiators stressed that talks are very important to save the Iranian nuclear deal and must produce a final agreement within weeks, not months.
The eighth round of the Vienna Talks is taking place between Iran and the countries that are still members of the nuclear agreement, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China, while the United States indirectly participates in it.
In the meantime, Blinken and the European Troika foreign ministers highlighted their solidarity with Lithuania amid "escalating political pressure and economic coercion by China" and these practices, the US State Department statement said.
Regarding Libya, the ministers discussed "the ongoing efforts to organize national elections and agreed on the importance of pushing the electoral process forward without delay."
