Blinken has arrived in Ukraine, according to Reuters, which could attack Russia in the short term

By Simon Lewis

KIIV (Reuters) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kiev on Wednesday in a diplomatic whistle-blowing push with Moscow to ease tensions with Ukraine, warning that Russia could launch a new attack “in a very short time”.

Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and then travel to Berlin to speak with allies before meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva, after no progress in negotiations last week.

Russia has deployed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border as Kiev and its allies prepare for a new military offensive against Ukraine.

In addition to the nervousness, Russia has moved more troops to Belarus this week, ahead of planned joint exercises in Minsk next month. Moscow has denied plans to attack, but has called on Washington to secure security, including a blockade of Ukraine’s accession to the NATO alliance.

Speaking to diplomats at the U.S. embassy in Kiev, Blinken said he strongly hoped Russia would maintain a diplomatic and peaceful path when it met with Lavrov, and warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could issue an attack order at short notice.

“As you know, we have been paying close attention to Ukraine for the last two months, due to the significant accumulation of Russian forces that we have seen near the Ukrainian border,” Blinken said. .

He said the Russian construction was taking place “without provocation, without reason.”

“We know that there are plans to increase this force even further in a very short warning, which gives President Putin the ability, even in the very short term, to take more aggressive action against Ukraine,” Blinken said.

Russia’s actions have drawn Washington’s attention, as well as its allies in Europe and abroad, he said.

US President Joe Biden’s administration approved an additional $ 200 million last month https://www.reuters.com/world/us-approved-200-mln-defense-aid-ukraine-december-state-department-official-2022 -01-19 He provided more aid to Ukraine in defense security and more support than ever since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

US SUPPORT TO UKRAINE

State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken’s visit was “a repeat of our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Washington has warned that a new attack on Russia will have serious consequences, and has promised to strengthen its security presence in Europe.

“If Russia invades Ukraine more, we will provide additional defense material to the Ukrainians on top of what we are already providing,” a State Department official said before arriving in Blink.

Blinken will meet with Foreign Minister Zelenskiy and Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday.

In Berlin, Annalena Baerbock will meet with the German Foreign Minister and later the Transatlantic Quad, referring to a format that includes the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany.

Germany said on Tuesday it could suspend Nord Stream 2 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-signals-it-could-halt-gas-pipeline-if-russia-invades-ukraine-2022-01-18 If Russia invades Ukraine from Russia.

Blinken spoke with Lavrov on Tuesday and the two decided in a call that a personal reunion would be helpful.

Lavrov said Moscow would welcome U.S. diplomatic efforts and repeated Russian accusations that Ukraine was “sabotaging” Ukrainian agreements aimed at ending the conflict between eastern Ukrainian troops and Russian forces.

Despite diplomatic commitments this month, Washington has yet to see Russia ease its tensions and Moscow could attack Ukraine at any time in January or February, a senior U.S. official said earlier.

“Now we are at a stage where Russia can attack Ukraine at any time,” the official said

Kyiv has sought weapons from Western nations to strengthen its defense. On Monday, Britain said it had begun supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons to help defend itself.