The US diplomatic mission in Geneva and also Russia have in recent days made serious preparations for talks between Washington and Moscow on the tensions over Ukraine, as well as the guarantees demanded by Moscow regarding NATO’s non-enlargement to the east.
The White House said the discussions would be serious, but described them as probation talks, and that the United States would not make any firm commitments, nor did it intend to discuss the number of troops stationed in the Baltic states and Poland.
All the issues discussed will then be discussed with NATO allies, Washington said.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in an interview with ABC before talks in Geneva today that Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation. Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made a decision on the invasion of Ukraine, Anthony Blinken said: “I do not know that a decision has already been made. It is clear that
we are [Krievijai] offered two routes. One is a path of diplomacy and dialogue, the other is a deterrent and massive consequences for Russia if it resumes its aggression against Ukraine.
And this week, we’re going to see what way Putin wants to go. “
The US delegation will be led by Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman, and the Russian delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. They have a working dinner tonight, but the main talks are scheduled for tomorrow.
Ryabkov said today that he was disappointed with Washington’s signals and was not optimistic about the Geneva talks.
Russia, for its part, has repeatedly demanded assurances from NATO that it will not expand eastwards and has little hope of a breakthrough.
Following the Geneva talks, a NATO-Russia meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 January in Brussels.
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