'No signs' at G20 of Russia engaging on Ukraine: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Bali: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that Washington saw "no signs" of Russia engaging with G20 diplomats over its invasion of Ukraine after Moscow faced a barrage of criticism at talks in Indonesia.

Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov stormed out of a meeting with G20 foreign ministers on the resort island of Bali on Friday after Washington and its allies condemned Moscow's assault on its neighbour during the closed-door talks.

"We saw no signs whatsoever that Russia is prepared to engage in meaningful diplomacy," Blinken said after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday."If there is an opportunity for diplomacy, we will seize it."Lavrov walked out of a morning session on Friday as his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock criticised the invasion. He then left an afternoon session before Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba addressed the ministers virtually.


"There was a strong consensus and Russia was left isolated, as it has been many times since this war begin," Blinken said.

"In fact, Foreign Minister Lavrov left the meeting early, maybe because this message had been so resoundingly clear."