#US #Russia #Ukraine #War
Video By RT
The United States issued a strong warning to Russia on Thursday, calling for it to stay away from Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at an OSCE meeting in Stockholm where he warned of "serious consequences" if Moscow decided to pursue confrontation.
Ukrainian and Western officials are worried that a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine could herald an invasion.
“We don't know President Putin's intent. We don't know if he's made a decision to take renewed, aggressive action against Ukraine, but what we do know is that he's putting in place the capacity to do so and to do so on on short, on short notice," Blinken told Euronews after his meeting, adding that concern was widespread among European partners.
"What's most important for Russia to understand is that actions have have consequences. Those consequences are real. They're not in Russia's interests, and having a conflict is in no one's interest," he went on.
President Biden, said Blinken, had told President Putin that the US wanted a "stable, predictable relationship with Russia", but if Moscow moved "aggressively again against Ukraine" this would be moving in "exactly the opposite direction".
"I don't think that's good for for any of us, but president was equally clear if Russia chooses to act recklessly, we'll respond."
Pressed on what such action might involve given that sanctions were already in place, Blinken declined to be specific, but said "many things" were being considered that would have "a very high impact, and are things that we have not done in the past that we've refrained from doing".
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