A senior State Department official, in describing the US thinking behind agreeing to send written responses to Moscow, notes "we're taking this step by step, but we don't want to be the ones to foreclose the possible diplomatic solution
2 year agoNow, the Russian warplanes are dropping two luminous thermal balloons in the sky of Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the conclusion of his trip to Europe to address Russia’s unprovoked military buildup near Ukraine’s borders
Germany is blocking NATO ally Estonia from giving military support to Ukraine by refusing to issue permits for German-origin weapons to be exported to Kyiv as it braces for a potential Russian invasion
Russia-Ukraine: "We continue to see a very sizable force presence by the Russians in the western part of their country.concerning" per @PentagonPresSec "They continue to add to the force presence there"
President Biden will meet with his national security team this weekend at Camp David, WH press secretary Jen Psaki said. Asked if another summit is necessary between Biden and Putin, she said that has not been decided but the president is open to one
2 year agoNATO rejects Russia's demands to withdraw forces from Bulgaria and Romania, saying the alliance "will not renounce its ability to protect and defend each other, including with the presence of troops in the eastern part of the Alliance."
.@PressSec confirms that @SecBlinken statement that "whether it's 1 Russian soldier or 1000 crossing the border it's an attack" is "the President's policy that he has directed to his Secretary of State”
Defense Minister of Latvia: The Baltic states will send "Stinger" and "Javelin" systems, as well as various individual equipment to help Ukraine to strengthen its defences. I strongly urge Russia to de-escalate situation at the border with Ukraine and respect its sovereignty
Troops of the Eastern Military District, Russian Aerospace Forces and Russsian Airborne Forces will take part in joint exercises with Belarus — Ministry of Defense of Belarus
2 year agoMilitary echelon filmed in Ryazan
2 year agoMilitary echelon filmed in Chelyabinsk
Ukraine security services accuse Russia of false bomb threat campaign aimed to 'sow alarm and panic'
Bulgaria in response to Russia says it decides itself on its defence with NATO allies
The Bank of Russia received bomb threat, the staff was evacuated, an inspection is underway, the press service of the regulator reports.
2 year agoIran chief negotiator @Bagheri_Kani met EU's @enriquemora_ and Russia chief negotiator @Amb_Ulyanov today on Friday
Blinken says he asked Lavrov to describe how Russian side believes its actions have advanced Russia's interests - references increased support in Ukraine for alignment with West
Blinken: "Sometimes we and Russia have different interpretations of history"
Blinken on a possible Biden-Putin summit: "If it proves useful and productive for the two presidents to meet to talk, to engage to try to carry things forward, I think we're fully prepared to do that"
Blinken says Russia's buildup gives it the ability to attack Ukraine from south, east and north
Asked to explain Biden's reasoning for ruling out US troops in Ukraine in case of invasion, Blinken says "Ukraine is a very valued partner of the US and other countries in Europe as well, but our Article V commitment extends to NATO allies.
And Ukraine is not a member of NATO"
33 trains with military equipment and Russian servicemen have arrived in Belarus over the past week. Such data is provided by the telegram channel "Community of Railway workers." The total number of trains with Russian military equipment that will arrive in Belarus is 200 trains
Blinken says Lavrov repeated denial of plans to invade Ukraine. "But it is deeds and actions" that US will judge, he says, asks Russia to redeploy forces from near Ukraine's border (which Lavrov just a little while ago said was none of America's business since inside Russia)
2 year agoAfter meeting with Lavrov in Geneva, @SecBlinken reiterates that there is "no trade space" on Ukraine's right to choose it's own path. Also makes clear that in terms of agreements, "nothing about NATO without NATO" & "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine
Blinken says US will consult with allies and then provide Russia written responses to its security proposals - after which he'll talk again to Lavrov
Blinken says he believes they can move forward on agreements on condition of "Russia stopping its aggression toward Ukraine"
"We've been clear. If any Russian military forces move across Ukraine's border, that's a renewed invasion. It will be met with swift, severe and a united response from the United States and our partners and allies," @SecBlinken says after Lavrov meeting
2 year ago.@SecBlinken "This was not a negotiation, but a candid exchange of concerns and ideas"
"There is no trade space there - none" he says of Ukrainians' right to decide their future, Blinken says
On Russia's security concerns, Blinken says US ready to take steps on a reciprocal basis
