Blinken: Russia rejects new talks until West responds to demands
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Blinken prepares to head to Kiev as a sign of support after the West's allegations of Russia's intentions to "invade Ukraine".
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R)
Moscow, on Tuesday, refused to hold new talks on Ukraine unless the West responds to its demands, as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken prepares to head to Kiev as a sign of support, after the West's allegations of Russia's intentions to "invade Ukraine".
Today, Tuesday, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, called for a diplomatic approach to end the crisis in Ukraine, the US State Department confirmed.
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said Blinken stressed the "importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine."
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is scheduled to travel to Ukraine today, "for a visit of support, in light of fears of a Russian invasion." State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, "and will stress the United States' commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
State Dept. declines to say if US will respond in writing to Russia's security proposals
A senior State Department official on Tuesday declined to provide an update on whether the United States will provide written responses to Russia's security proposals as requested by Moscow.
"What I would share with you is to reiterate what Deputy Secretary [Wendy] Sherman said in Brussels which is we are prepared to continue to engage with Russia on security issues in a meaningful, reciprocal dialogue," the US official told a telephone briefing when asked if the US will provide written responses to Russia's proposals. "We will see this Friday if Russia is prepared to do the same. So really the focus right now, the next engagement with the Russians will be this in-person meeting between Secretary [Antony] Blinken and Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov on Friday."
Read more: Russia to weigh new security talks after written US, NATO responses
Blinken's visit to Ukraine and Germany follows two visits to Moscow and Kiev by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, with the aim of mediating the crisis between the two countries.
Russia is waiting for answers from the United States to "continue talks" on Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow was waiting for answers from the United States on broad security demands it made to the West before continuing talks on Ukraine.
Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow with his German counterpart Baerbock that Russia "is now waiting for answers to these proposals, as promised, in order to continue negotiations," adding, "We bet that the talks will continue."
But he again refused the Western demand to start withdrawing tens of thousands of soldiers deployed on Ukraine's borders, which Russia deployed following NATO hostile military activities in the region.
The Russian Minister said, "We cannot accept demands related to our forces on our territory," stressing once again that these forces "do not threaten" anyone.
For her part, the German Minister said she wanted the dialogue to continue with Russia while questioning Lavrov's assurances.
As for the Russian demands in the field of security, she said she supported dialogue but demanded "measures that bring more security to all of Europe."
Stoltenberg calls on Russia and NATO allies to hold new talks
Simultaneously, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia and NATO allies for further discussions on Ukraine as diplomatic efforts intensified in recent weeks.
An earlier meeting last week of the NATO-Russia Council ended with deep differences between the alliance and Moscow over security in Europe.
Stoltenberg had said that the alliance was ready to continue dialogue, threatening Russia that "if it decides once again to use force against Ukraine, it will pay a heavy price by imposing economic, financial and political sanctions on it."
