[The Epoch Times, January 24, 2022](Comprehensive report by The Epoch Times reporter Zhang Ting) US Secretary of StateBlinkenSunday (January 23) stepped upRussiapotential intrusionUkraine“Any additional Russian force” entering Ukraine in an “aggressive manner” would trigger a harsh response from the United States and its allies. Blinken also made it clear that the United States has pointed Russia to two paths.
BlinkenThe comments were made in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
Blinken said the United States gaveRussiatwo ways. One is to take the road of diplomacy and dialogue.Another way is to launch another invasion in RussiaUkrainein the event that it bears huge consequences.
“It’s not just us saying that. The world’s leading democracies, the G7, have made it clear. The same goes for the EU and NATO.”
Blinken also said, “While we did this, we gave Ukraine more defensive assistance, military assistance last year than ever before. I myself have just authorized third countries – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to provide Ukraine with U.S. military equipment. We are in close, regular, ongoing communication and consultation with allies and partners to make it clear (to Russia) that these massive consequences will follow.”
“As I said, if any additional Russian forces enter Ukraine in an aggressive manner, it will trigger a swift, severe and concerted response from us and Europe,” Blinken said.
He also warned that of course Russia could do other things than actually send additional troops into Ukraine. The United States will likewise join Europe in preparing for a swift and consistent response. “We’re reviewing every situation, preparing for every situation.”
Blinken’s comments further shed light on the U.S. stance on a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken also rejected calls for immediate economic sanctions on Russia, saying doing so would weaken the West’s ability to deter potential Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“In terms of sanctions, the purpose is to deter Russian aggression. So if you activate sanctions now, you lose the deterrent effect,” Blinken said.
The U.S. delivered some ammunition to Ukraine on Saturday (January 22) as tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated. Meanwhile, U.S. officials told Fox News that the State Department has ordered families of U.S. embassy personnel in Ukraine to evacuate Ukraine as soon as Monday (January 24).
A source close to the Ukrainian government told CNN that the U.S. has informed Ukraine that “the evacuation of the families of diplomats from the embassy in Kiev may begin as early as next week.”
But a State Department spokesman did not publicly confirm the evacuation of the embassy personnel. A State Department spokesman was quoted by CNN as saying they had “nothing to announce at this time,” adding that “as usual, we will be conducting rigorous contingency planning in case the security situation deteriorates.”
Responsible editor: Gao Jing#