{"id":53550,"date":"2022-01-21T11:01:02","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T11:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/21\/top-us-russian-envoys-discuss-ukraine-at-critical-moment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T10:44:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:44:26","slug":"top-us-russian-envoys-discuss-ukraine-at-critical-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2022\/01\/21\/top-us-russian-envoys-discuss-ukraine-at-critical-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"Top US, Russian envoys discuss Ukraine at \u2018critical moment\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GENEVA (AP) \u2014 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Friday that a weekslong standoff over Ukraine is at a \u201ccritical moment,\u201d as he headed into talks with his Russian counterpart amid rising concerns that Europe could again be beset by war.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lowered expectations ahead of the meeting in Geneva, with each saying in his own way that the talks were only one step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed near the Ukrainian border<\/a>, many fear Moscow is preparing to invade \u2014 and the U.S. and its allies are scrambling to present a united front to hopefully prevent that or coordinate a response if they can\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t expect to resolve our differences here today. But I do hope and expect that we can test whether the path of diplomacy or dialogue remains open,\u201d Blinken told Lavrov. \u201cThis is a critical moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lavrov, meanwhile, said he did not \u201cexpect a breakthrough at these negotiations either. What we expect is concrete answers to our concrete proposals.\u201d Moscow has demanded concessions from NATO over the western alliance\u2019s relationship with Ukraine, a former Soviet republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington and its allies have repeatedly promised \u201csevere\u201d consequences such as biting economic sanctions \u2014 though not military action \u2014 against Russia if an invasion goes ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blinken repeated that warning Friday. He said the U.S. and its allies were committed to diplomacy, but were also committed, \u201cif that proves impossible, and Russia decides to pursue aggression against Ukraine, to a united, swift and severe response.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he said he also wanted to use the opportunity to share directly with Lavrov some \u201cconcrete ideas to address some of the concerns that you have raised, as well as the deep concerns that many of us have about Russia\u2019s actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After meeting with Ukraine\u2019s president in Kyiv and top diplomats from Britain, France and Germany in Berlin this week, Blinken faces Lavrov in a meeting that is shaping up as a possible last-ditch effort at dialogue and a negotiated agreement \u2014 but both sides sticking to so-far-irreconcilable red lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\t