BREAKING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the United States will provide written responses to Russian demands on Ukraine and NATO next week.
But he said he also wanted to use the opportunity to share directly with Lavrov some “concrete ideas to address some of the concerns that you have raised, as well as the deep concerns that many of us have about Russia’s actions.”
Adding to its repeated verbal warnings to Russia, the United States stepped up sanctions on Thursday. The U.S. Treasury Department slapped new measures on four Ukrainian officials. Blinken said the four were at the center of a Kremlin effort begun in 2020 to damage Ukraine’s ability to “independently function.”
The Russian foreign ministry mocked those statements, saying they must have been prepared by an Orwellian “Ministry of Truth,” and Lavrov caustically dismissed them in his remarks to Blinken, saying he hoped the State Department had also spent time drafting responses to Russia’s demands. Blinken took pains to stress U.S. unity with its allies in opposition to a possible Russian invasion, something that took an apparent hit earlier this week when U.S. President Joe Biden drew widespread criticism for saying retaliation for Russian aggression in Ukraine would depend on the details and that a “minor incursion” could prompt discord among Western allies.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. boosts military aid to Ukraine as Russia tensions soarAs U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits, Ukraine the Biden administration says it's providing an additional $200 million in defensive military aid to the country amid soaring fears of a Russian invasion.
Read more »
Gas prices could soar if Russia invades UkraineOil prices have already shot up to seven-year highs in recent days. A conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which the White House has warned could be imminent, would have the potential to drive them much higher
Read more »
Biden issues new warning to Russia over invading UkraineU.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would constitute an invasion, saying that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action.
Read more »
US, Russia hold last-ditch talks on Ukraine war fearsWashington and Moscow's top diplomats meet Friday in Geneva in a last-ditch bid for a solution over Ukraine, with the United States increasingly fearing that Russia will invade despite warnings of severe reprisals.
Read more »
War With Russia Over Ukraine 'Last Thing' US Needs, Say ProgressivesUrging diplomacy over violence, foreign policy experts say 'Biden's failure to acknowledge Russia's legitimate security concerns has led to the present impasse.'
Read more »
Biden sees Russia moving on Ukraine, sows doubt on Western response‘It is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine,’ President Joe Biden said and added that his team have prepared a broad set of sanctions and other economic penalties to impose on Russia in the event of an invasion
Read more »