[ad_1]
Top US and Russian diplomats have begun talks in Geneva, in a continuing effort to ease weeks of tensions amid concerns that Russia will invade Ukraine, despite warnings of dire consequences.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov began the meeting on January 21 in a bid to avoid a possible war in Europe.
Sitting in front of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at a luxury hotel in the Swiss city, Blinken warned of a “quick and harsh” response if Russia invades Ukraine, but stressed that Washington remains open to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis. .
Lavrov, meanwhile, said Russia did not expect any progress during the talks, which follow a storm of diplomacy in recent days that has failed to overcome deep divisions between the western capitals and Moscow.
Ahead of the Geneva meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia was “not afraid of anyone, not even the United States,” when asked by CBS News if “Ukraine is afraid of Russia.”
Ukrainian military intelligence has previously said that Russia was actively recruiting “mercenaries” and sending them to intensive training in separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine.
The United States does not expect to resolve its dispute with Russia over Ukraine in the Geneva talks on Friday, but expects to see if diplomacy remains a viable option, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after arriving at the meeting.
“This is a critical moment. “You are right: we do not expect to resolve our disputes here today,” Blinken said in his opening remarks for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
“But I hope and expect that we can see if the path of diplomacy, of dialogue, remains open. “We are committed to walking that path, to resolving our differences peacefully.”
Prior to the launch of the PCR in Geneva, Blinken had stressed that he did not foresee any progress in these talks, which, he said, given the state of the talks, should explore whether the diplomatic path to resolve this can really continue. crisis.
“Russia can choose the path of diplomacy and dialogue or confrontation and its consequences,” Blinken said in a January 20 interview with German television station ZDF.
Moscow wants NATO foreign troops to leave Romania and Bulgaria as part of the security demands it is seeking from the US-led alliance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday ahead of Russia-US talks in Geneva.
Russia wants “the withdrawal of foreign forces, equipment and weapons” from countries that were not members of NATO before 1997, including Bulgaria and Romania, the ministry said in a statement.
Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops in Crimea and near Ukraine’s borders, raising alarm in Western capitals that Moscow is preparing further military action against Ukraine.
Moscow already supports separatist fighters in an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed the lives of more than 13,200 people since 2014, the same year it illegally annexed Crimea.
Moscow is angry about Western military support for Ukraine.
Washington and its allies have said most of Russia’s demands are not initial.
US President Joe Biden said at a news conference on January 19 that Russia would face severe economic consequences if a military offensive took place.
Russia denies planning an invasion, though it adds war rhetoric and demands a list of security guarantees.
The demands include a promise from NATO to never accept Ukraine and a significant withdrawal of the alliance from Eastern Europe.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
