The United States has rejected Russia’s major demand to bar Ukraine from NATO, saying Moscow was ready to invade but the US offered a new “diplomatic path” to find a way out of the crisis.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today said would speak again in the coming days to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“It sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it,” Blinken told reporters of the US response to any eventuality from Russia, which he said would remain confidential.
He renewed an offer for Russia on reciprocal basis to handle mutual security concerns, including reductions of missiles in Europe and transparency on military drills and Western aid to Ukraine.
But he made clear that the United States would not budge on Russia’s core demand that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO, the US-backed military alliance.
“From our perspective, I can’t be more clear – NATO’s door is open, remains open, and that is our commitment,” Blinken said.
Meanwhile, Russian officials have warned the United States that Moscow would quickly take retaliatory actions if the US and its allies rejected its demands.
