Lavrov: US to respond to Russian security proposals next week
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After meeting with the US Secretary of State, the Russian Foreign Minister says Russia does not rule out that the West's hysteria about Ukraine is aimed at undermining the Minsk-2 agreements.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with his American counterpart
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Friday that Anthony Blinken promised to provide written responses to Russian security proposals next week.
Lavrov stressed that Russia has no plans to attack or invade Ukraine and slammed the West for its "hysteria" regarding the matter.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, today's meeting was temporary, and Blinken expressed his satisfaction with the exchange of views, noting that "we heard from Blinken repeated proofs of the right of countries to form alliances and presented counter-evidence."
“What NATO is now doing toward Ukraine clearly shows that NATO sees Ukraine as part of its sphere of influence,” Lavrov said, adding that today's meeting will help Washington provide a response to Russia's proposals next week.
In contrast, Blinken said he had warned Lavrov that Russian forces crossing the border into Ukraine would be considered an invasion and lead to a subsequent response, noting that the US and Russia are on their way to a better understanding of each other's positions after the Geneva meeting.
"These are difficult issues we are facing, and resolving them won't be done quickly. I don't expect we'll solve them in Geneva," Blinken said in Geneva.
US President Joe Biden said Wednesday during his formal news conference on the eve of his one-year anniversary in the White House that Putin would "pay a dear price" if he moves forward with a military incursion.
He also asserted his belief that Russia is preparing to take action on Ukraine, although he does not think the Kremlin has made a final decision.
