Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenBiden warns Putin of ‘swift and severe costs’ if Russia invades UkrainePentagon chief orders 160 US troops in Ukraine to reposition in EuropeBlinken warns Russian official of ‘resolute, massive’ response if it invades UkraineMORE on Sunday said a diplomatic path remains open to ending the crisis between Moscow and Kyiv, as fears mount that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenBiden warns Putin of ‘swift and severe costs’ if Russia invades UkrainePentagon chief orders 160 US troops in Ukraine to reposition in EuropeBlinken warns Russian official of ‘resolute, massive’ response if it invades UkraineMORE on Sunday said a diplomatic path remains open to ending the crisis between Moscow and Kyiv, as fears mount that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine.Blinken told reporters in Hawaii that he informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their phone call one day prior that the current situation between Moscow and Kyiv could be addressed through diplomatic means.
He said President BidenJoe BidenUS cyber defense agency warns of possible Russian cyberattacks amid tensionsAfghans protest US order to free up .5B in frozen Afghanistan funds to compensate 9/11 victimsSunday shows preview: White House says Russia could invade ‘any day’; RNC censure resolution receives backlashMORE expressed a similar sentiment to President Putin on Saturday, when the two leaders spoke for roughly an hour amid elevated tensions.
I spoke by phone last night with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, where I raised our serious concerns that Moscow may be considering launching a military attack against Ukraine in the coming days, Blinken told reporters in Hawaii.
I made clear, as President Biden did today in his conversation with President Putin, that a diplomatic path to resolving this crisis a crisis created by the unprovoked massing of Russian forces all around Ukraine that diplomatic path remains open, he added.
The U.S. and its allies are becoming increasingly concerned that Russia is planning an incursion against Ukraine. Moscow has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, but has asserted that it has no plans of invading.
White House national security adviser Jake SullivanJake SullivanEU not closing diplomatic missions in Kyiv amid threat of Russian invasionSunday shows preview: White House says Russia could invade ‘any day’; RNC censure resolution receives backlashBiden warns Putin of ‘swift and severe costs’ if Russia invades UkraineMORE on Friday said a Russian invasion of Ukraine could occur any day. One day later, the State Department ordered most employees working at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv to depart.
Blinken on Sunday, speaking alongside his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, said if Russia wants to pursue a diplomatic path forward, it should de-escalate, rather than escalate.
And it should not only talk about seeking a diplomatic outcome, but actually work toward one, he added.
Blinken also said Lavrov informed him that Russia is working on its response to the U.S.s written answer last month, which addressed Moscows security demands and proposed areas for discussion.
It remains to be seen if theyll follow through on that. But if they do, well be ready to engage, together with our allies and partners, he added.
The secretary of State also said he emphasized that if Russia chooses the path of aggression and further invades Ukraine, the response from the United States and our allies and partners will be swift, it will be united, it will be severe.
