Blinken, the German minister, has reiterated his warning to Russia about Ukraine

By Simon Lewis and Madeline Chambers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US and top German diplomats reiterated on Wednesday that Russia would impose consequences on the invasion of Ukraine, and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to escalate tensions between Moscow and the West.

US Secretary of State Antony Blink and his newly installed counterpart met at the State Department ahead of meetings https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-head-convenes-council-with-russia-jan -12-2022-01 -04 With Russian authorities in Europe next week.

Concerned about Russian military forces on the Ukrainian border, Washington has rallied European allies to threaten Russia with sanctions in an attempt to ease tensions.

“Strong transatlantic solidarity is the most effective and effective response to the Russian attacks,” Blinken said, reiterating his commitment to https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/blinken-warns-high. impact-economic-steps-if-russia-invades-ukraine-2021-12-01 To go further than previous sanctions against Russia and “cause very high costs to Russia’s economy and financial system if Russia invades Ukraine”.

Baerbock said Russia was aware that the “common position” of Europe and the United States was to impose “serious consequences” in the event of an invasion, but did not specify what sanctions Germany would take.

“There is no alternative to a political solution. That should be made clear to the Russian government,” Baerbock said, after interpreting his comments directly after his meeting with Blinken.

Ukraine has accused Russia of gathering about 100,000 troops to prepare for a possible invasion, and has sparked fears that a heated conflict in the eastern Donbass region of Ukraine could turn into an open war between the former neighboring Soviet republics.

US President Joe Biden has promised to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine to defend it from possible attacks by Russia.

Baerbock said Germany has a “different position” with the United States in supplying weapons to Ukraine, but that it is providing support to the Ukrainian armed forces through medical supplies and assisting Ukrainian soldiers wounded in the conflict in their treatment.

Blinken and Baerbock said they had also discussed the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which it would give to Germany, bypassing transit routes through Ukraine.

Baerbock said the new coalition government that took power in Berlin last month approved a joint statement https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-germany-deal-nord-stream-2-pipeline-draws-ire- lawmakers -two-countries-2021-07-21 his predecessors signed with Washington in July.

“We agreed that we, together with our European partners, would take effective measures with our European partners if Russia were to use energy as a weapon or if it had to continue its aggressive actions against Ukraine,” he said.