The United States has summoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Geneva for urgent US-Russia talks as fears of an invasion escalate. In Berlin, US Secretary of State John Blinken said that European nations are divided and that the threat of an all-out war hangs over their heads. But the Russian leader has a different approach: he wants to establish a diplomatic off-ramp.
In a draft security pact Russia laid out its major demands for Ukraine, including that the U.S. prevent further expansion of NATO eastward and that it do not let the former Soviet states join NATO. Those proposals have been rejected by the U.S. and its allies. However, the US Secretary of State has been trying to get allies’ backing to impose sanctions on Russia.
Blinken downplayed the chances of a breakthrough with Lavrov. On Thursday, he is expected to stop in Berlin and meet with German officials. The two diplomats will also attend a group session with French and British diplomats. He did not give any details about the U.S.-Russia security assistance for Kyiv, but said that the government’s security assistance for the country is crucial.
After his trip to Kyiv, President Barack Obama declared that an invasion of Ukraine is a non-starter. The United States accuses Russia of undermining the post-Cold War order in Europe. Last week, Russia went one step further by demanding that all foreign forces and military hardware be withdrawn from non-NATO countries by the end of 1997. Although there are many risks involved, Blinken’s remarks prompted the UK’s Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, to warn that “the danger of an invasion continues.”
As invasion fears rise, the United States and Russia have agreed to hold emergency talks in Geneva. The talks, which are a pretext for an invasion, may be a mere pretext for the attack. Both sides have been warning each other for days, and a meeting today will strengthen their relationship. The U.S. has warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his aggressive actions, the U.S. could strike back.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks in Geneva, but no agreement was reached. The meetings are not a substitute for negotiations. But they are a necessary step in preventing an invasion and preserving peace. But it is also possible that a deal could not be reached if the two sides do not reach an agreement on a peaceful resolution.