3 years agoA 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
3 years agoNow, the Russian warplanes are dropping two luminous thermal balloons in the sky of Jabal Al-Zawiya, south of Idlib
3 years agoSecretary 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
3 years agoGermany 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
3 years ago 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"
3 years ago 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
3 years ago NATO 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."
3 years ago .@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”
3 years agoDefense 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
3 years agoTroops 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
3 years agoMilitary echelon filmed in Ryazan
3 years ago Military echelon filmed in Chelyabinsk
3 years ago Ukraine security services accuse Russia of false bomb threat campaign aimed to 'sow alarm and panic'
3 years ago Bulgaria in response to Russia says it decides itself on its defence with NATO allies
3 years agoThe Bank of Russia received bomb threat, the staff was evacuated, an inspection is underway, the press service of the regulator reports.
3 years ago Iran chief negotiator @Bagheri_Kani met EU's @enriquemora_ and Russia chief negotiator @Amb_Ulyanov today on Friday
3 years ago 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
3 years ago Blinken: "Sometimes we and Russia have different interpretations of history"
3 years ago 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"
3 years ago Blinken says Russia's buildup gives it the ability to attack Ukraine from south, east and north
3 years ago 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"
3 years ago 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
3 years ago 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)
3 years ago After 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
3 years ago 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
3 years ago Blinken says he believes they can move forward on agreements on condition of "Russia stopping its aggression toward Ukraine"
3 years ago "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
3 years ago .@SecBlinken "This was not a negotiation, but a candid exchange of concerns and ideas"
3 years ago "There is no trade space there - none" he says of Ukrainians' right to decide their future, Blinken says
3 years ago On Russia's security concerns, Blinken says US ready to take steps on a reciprocal basis
