Russia's demand that Ukraine not join the NATO military alliance has been rejected by the United States. Russia's foreign minister, Anthony Blinken, has said in a statement that Russia would launch an attack on Ukraine.
Blinken did not make any concessions, but said he had "opened an important diplomatic path for Russia to move forward, if Russia wants to go that way." A Russian minister has said his country will read Blinken's response. The United States has sent a response to Russia in coordination with the military alliance NATO.
Russia has written to the United States about its security concerns. In it, NATO mentioned the expansion of the military alliance and other related security issues.
One of Russia's most important demands was that the possibility of Ukraine and other Eastern European countries joining NATO be ruled out.
Russia has mobilized numerous troops on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks. Western nations see the incident as a preparation for a possible Russian operation in Ukraine. Russia has denied any involvement in the operation.US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement that Russia had "clearly stated" the "principles" of the United States. These include Ukraine's sovereignty and the right to be a member of a military alliance like NATO.
"There is no doubt about the importance of the goals we are pursuing in diplomacy. "We are working with equal focus on strengthening Ukraine's defenses and at the same time providing a swift and unified response to any further Russian aggression," he said. The United States has sent three shipments of military aid to Ukraine this week, the Secretary of State said. It includes javelin missiles, hundreds of tons of ammunition and other items.
Blinken has denied any rift between the United States and its European allies over Ukraine. He says NATO has made its own proposals that reinforce the US position as a whole. However, the US document has not yet been released.
"Diplomacy is most likely to succeed when there is ample opportunity for secret talks," he said.
"It's up to them how Russia responds now," he said. We are ready for any direction. "NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a response from their military alliance had also been sent to Moscow. He says he is willing to listen to Russia's concerns, but also understands that each country has the right to choose its own defense.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Pavlov says Stoltenberg is far from real. "You know, I quit commenting a long time ago," he said.
Meanwhile, diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany reiterated their commitment to a long-term ceasefire in the rebel-held Don bass region of Ukraine.
All four countries say they are in favor of a ceasefire, no matter what their differences are.
The Kremlin's deputy chief of staff, Dmitry Kodak, said the eight-hour talks between the four countries in Paris had not been easy.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in an official response to a letter sent to Russia that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine.
The four countries are scheduled to meet again in Berlin in two weeks.
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