US-Russia Meet at Critical Point of Ukraine Crisis, Discuss What?

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US-Russia Meet at Critical Point of Ukraine Crisis, Discuss What?


In the weeks-long stalemate over the Ukraine crisis, two top diplomats from the United States and Russia met at a crisis point to defuse tensions. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to defuse tensions when the two met in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday (21/1/2022) morning.

The US has voiced its growing concern that a Russian invasion is imminent. The Kremlin has amassed as many as 100,000 troops on Kiev's doorstep, but has repeatedly denied planning to attack.

Previous talks ended in a stalemate in which the US and NATO rejected Moscow's demands on the West's alliance relations with Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states.

"We didn't expect to settle our differences here today. But I hope and hope that we can test whether the path of diplomacy or dialogue remains open," Blinken told Lavrov.

"This is a critical time," he added, as reported by NBC News. Meanwhile, Lavrov said he did not expect a breakthrough in these negotiations. "What we hope for is a concrete answer to our concrete proposal," he stressed.

The US and its allies have sought to present a united front, warning of "severe" consequences including tough economic sanctions on Russia. But there are signs of division within the transatlantic alliance over how to respond to Russian aggression.

President Joe Biden has come under fire for making a distinction between a "small attack" and a major one, suggesting a small-scale Russian operation may receive a milder response.

"It depends on what he's doing. It's one thing if it's a minor attack and we end up having to fight about what to do and not to do," Biden said at a news conference last Wednesday to mark one year in office.

Biden also predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would attack Ukraine. "My guess is he will move, he has to do something," he said.

His comments quickly sparked criticism from Washington to Kiev, with some accusing Biden of giving Russia the green light to launch an attack. Biden sought to clarify his comments on Thursday, saying that any movement of Russian troops into Ukraine would be seen as an invasion.

And Blinken also stressed the West's commitment to defending Ukraine. "We are very clear if any Russian military forces move across Ukraine's borders and commit new acts of aggression against Ukraine that will be met with a swift, violent, unified response from the United States and our allies and partners," he told reporters.

After meeting Ukraine's president in Kiev and top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany in Berlin this week, Blinken met with Lavrov in what is likely to be a last-ditch attempt at dialogue.

Russia wants binding security guarantees, including a permanent ban on Ukraine's membership in NATO and the elimination of most of the military presence of the US and its allies in eastern Europe.

The US and its European partners have said they are willing to consider certain actions that are less dramatic, but Russia's demands are unlikely and Putin knows they are no newbies. Read also: US flatly rejects Russia's request to stop NATO expansion.


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