Stephen Lendman

Both officials had numerous conversations in person and by phone accomplishing nothing.

US relations with Russia remain irreconcilably hostile, more dismal than any time post WW II. The geopolitical aims of both countries are polar opposite.

Russia pursues world peace, stability, multi-world polarity and mutual cooperation among all nations. Washington seeks unchallenged global dominance - aggressive wars and color revolutions its favored strategies. Possible confrontation between these powers is ominously real by accident or US design. The threat of nuclear war between them should terrify everyone.

America’s rage for endless wars makes the unthinkable possible, maybe likely given longstanding US plans to eliminate all sovereign independent countries, wanting US-controlled puppet regimes replacing them.

On Sunday, Sergey Lavrov and Rex Tillerson met on the sidelines of the UN’s 72nd General Assembly session.

Issues discussed included Syria and Ukraine, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova - likely North Korea and dismal bilateral relations as well.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a statement saying “US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met this evening in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.”

“The two recommitted to deconflicting military operations in Syria, reducing the violence, and creating the conditions for the Geneva process to move forward, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254” - calling for ceasefire and diplomatic conflict resolution.

Russia respects the letter and spirit of the resolution, continuing to go all-out for resolving years of conflict diplomatically, making significant progress short of a definitive breakthrough.

Washington breached the resolution straightaway, wanting endless war and regime change, continuing to support ISIS and other terrorist groups, pouring weapons and munitions into Syria for their use, occupying northern parts of the country, wanting to grab as much of its territory as possible, intending to stay, not leave.

Last week, US Secretary General Antonio Guterres, installed by Washington to serve Western interests, issued a meaningless statement saying:

“I think it’s clear that the relations are difficult…But I am a strong believer that peace, security in the world are still very strongly dependent on the possibility of these two countries that are absolutely essential pillars of our international community…to engage in a meaningful dialogue and to reach consensus in a number of areas that are of primary interest for both of us.”

America’s position toward Russia has been implacably hostile for the past century, brief periods of bilateral cooperation exceptions to the rule, relations today worse than ever.

Washington bears full responsibility, not Moscow. Nothing in prospect suggests change. Dark forces co-opted Trump.

He’s an impotent figurehead president unable to improve things, transformed into a caricature of a leader, one in name only.

Chances for better bilateral relations are nil. Russia is foolhardy pretending it has a partner in Washington. Hawks running its geopolitical agenda remain implacably hostile.

Nothing at the 72nd UN General Assembly session will change things - nor anything following its completion.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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