Blinken: We have offered Russia a clear choice

“We have had a series of intensive diplomatic meetings with Russian officials, directly through the dialogue on strategic stability with NATO, with the NATO-Russia Council in the OSCE, and there is hope that Russia will continue on the diplomatic path we desire,” he said. Blinken said in an interview with the Voice of America in Kiev.

He noted that it had become clear to Russia that a strong and decisive response would follow not only from the United States, but also from Europe and beyond, if Moscow decided to renew its aggression against Ukraine.

“I will not go into details, but we are doing this in very close coordination with European allies and partners. If Moscow commits aggression against Ukraine, the consequences would almost certainly be under an economic sanction, under two more military aid to Ukraine and under three, it is almost certain that NATO will have to strengthen its defense on the side of its eastern, ”said Blinken.

He stressed that important talks have taken place over the past weeks and assessed that now everyone has had the opportunity to review what has been discussed.

“The Russians are back and they are probably consulting with President Putin. “We did the same, in my case I consulted with President Biden, and the Europeans did the same with their leaders,” Blinken said, adding that the real question was whether Russia was serious about implementing the Minsk agreement.

“If it is, we are ready to enable it, we are ready to support it, we are ready to engage in it, but within the framework of supporting the Normandy process in which France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are participating,” Blinken said. . “Ukraine’s progress, which we are determined to support, depends on reforms, so we expect President Zelensky to continue these efforts. “The United States supports him and Ukraine in these efforts.”

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