U.S. And Russia On ‘Clearer Path’ To Diplomacy On Ukraine, Blinken Says

The path of diplomacy was stressed by the Secretary of State as he met with the Russian Foreign Minister in a critical moment as tensions rose between the two countries.

The Secretary of State greeted the Russian Foreign Minister before their meeting. The photo was taken by Alex Brandon.

The Associated Press.

The New York Times reports that after the talks, the two countries are on a clear path to understanding each other's positions.

The U.S. will give a written list of specific responses to Russian demands next week, and talks will continue after the list is received, according to both Blinken and Lavrov.

According to the Times, Russia demanded that NATO pledge to never admit Ukraine as a member, that NATO weapons never be deployed near the Russian border and that NATO troops be pulled back from Central and Eastern Europe.

The Times reports that after the meeting, Lavrov said the meeting was useful and honest, but he couldn't say whether or not the US was on the right path.

The two men said before the meeting that they did not expect any breakthrough from the talks.

The U.S. is committed to keeping a path of diplomacy and dialogue open, but also warned of action if Russia invades. If Russia decides to pursue aggression against Ukraine, we are committed to a swift and severe response. This is a critical time.
There are fears of another Russian invasion into Ukraine, after Russia illegally annexed the peninsula. Russian President Vladimir Putin has amassed as many as 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border this month, according to the Times. The U.S. and NATO said earlier this month that Russia should not have a say in who should be allowed to join the alliance. NATO never promised not to admit new members, but it could not and would not. President Joe Biden said any Russian military move into Ukraine would prompt a severe and coordinated economic response from NATO and its allies and that Moscow would pay a heavy price.

The New York Times reported that the two men would meet as tensions mount over Ukraine.

The US, NATO and NATO reject Russian demands.

There is a possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are reports of military buildup.