Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that if Russia invades Ukraine again, it could face “massive consequences” ahead of significant negotiations between Washington and Moscow over the next few days. ..
Russian and American officials are scheduled to discuss in Geneva on Monday, and tensions are rising over the thousands of Russian troops currently stationed along the Ukrainian border. Blinken previously said the White House is seeking a diplomatic solution with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It’s clear that we have provided him with two paths of progress,” Blinken said. ABC News on Sunday. “One is due to diplomacy and dialogue. The other is due to the deterrence and tremendous impact of Russia’s resumption of its attack on Ukraine. And we want President Putin to follow this week. I’m trying to test the proposal. “
NATO and Russia will also negotiate in Brussels next week. Other talks are scheduled in Vienna at the same time.
In an interview on Sunday, top US diplomats showed that the Biden administration did not anticipate a breakthrough with the Kremlin in a position near the Ukrainian border.
“It’s hard to see what’s really progressing, rather than talking, in an escalating atmosphere with a gun in Ukraine’s head. So if you really make progress, Russia is now Ukraine. We need to withdraw from the threat posed to Ukraine and mitigate escalation, “Blinken said. CNN on Sunday.
However, he reiterated in an ABC interview that Russia would face more financial, economic and other consequences if it “renewed its aggression” against Ukraine.
“We got here because Russia repeatedly attacked its neighbors more than a decade ago. In 2014 it was Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, but now it’s expected to do so again. “Blinken said on Sunday.
“To make real progress, when Russia has an army of 100,000 near the border and a gun in the head of Ukraine, it is very hard to see it happen when there is an ongoing escalation. It’s difficult, “he added in an interview with ABC.
However, Russian officials said Moscow would not give in to the United States and warned that negotiations over the next few days could end early. State-owned RIA Novosti news agency said Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said negotiations could end in a single meeting.
“I can’t rule out anything. This is a perfectly possible scenario, and Americans … shouldn’t have any illusions about this,” he said. “Of course, we will not make concessions under pressure,” Ryabkov, who heads the Russian delegation in Geneva, according to Reuters.
It also happens when Russia sends troops to neighboring Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the former Soviet republic of oil production, which has a particularly close relationship with Moscow in the widespread riots and clashes that have killed police officers. Russian state media reported that at least 164 people had died in the past week.
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Jack Phillips is the latest news reporter for The Epoch Times, based in New York.