US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Wednesday in a break-neck diplomatic push to defuse tensions with Moscow regarding Ukraine, as fears of an imminent Russian invasion increase.
According to France24, Blinken is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy before travelling to Berlin in order to talk with allies. He will then travel to Geneva and meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after last week’s talks produced no progress.
Speaking to diplomats at the US embassy, Blinken said he hoped Russia would turn to a diplomatic solution. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could give the attack order at a very short notice.
Blinken added that the Russian troop buildup near the Ukrainian border was taking place without any reason. He said that Russian actions had put Washington and its allies on alert.
Meanwhile, the German chancellor and the head of NATO called on Russia to de-escalate amid fears of an invasion into Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke as the two met in Berlin to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
According to Deutsche Welle, Scholz said that Berlin and NATO expected Russia to defuse the tension on the Ukrainian border. He added that Moscow could do so by pulling its troops out. He warned that Russia would face severe consequences if it invaded Ukraine.
Stoltenberg added that NATO was keen on engaging Russia on the negotiating table and address any concerns it may have.
