Ukrainian soldier stationed on the country’s border with Russia
Russian officials said Moscow is not planning to invade Ukraine, during talks with US officials in Geneva.
The two sides agreed to work towards easing tensions in the region, but there is no evidence of a major shift in the talks.
It is reported that Russia has deployed about 100,000 soldiers to the border with Ukraine, which has raised fears of an imminent attack.
Russia warned the United States not to “underestimate the risks” involved in Moscow’s confrontation with the West.
The United States said Russia would face sanctions if it launched an attack on Ukraine.
The European Union’s foreign policy coordinator, Josep Borrell, believes that the possibility of a Russian invasion is still possible.
“There are 100,000 Russian soldiers on the other side of the border…I suppose they didn’t go there for coffee,” he said on Sunday.
candid conversations
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman described the talks as “candid and direct” discussions aimed at better understanding each side’s security concerns.
Sherman said that the Russian delegation also denied plans to invade Ukraine, explaining that the movements of the military forces were “maneuvers and exercises.”
“But I would like to point out that neither side has been notified of any of this. It is usual that we inform each other of the exercises, where we can and they can prove that they actually have no intentions, by de-escalation and returning the troops to the barracks.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the Russians told their American counterparts that “all measures of combat training of soldiers and troops are taking place inside our territory”, and that “there is no reason to fear any scenario of escalation in this regard.”
‘big consequences’
Sherman said the United States has raised several “initial” ideas aimed at easing tensions, including placing mutual limits on the size and scope of military exercises and negotiations over missile deployments.
Nevertheless, Sherman said the United States had objected to Russian proposals that were “inappropriate” to the US government, including Russia’s demand that NATO commit never to include Ukraine in the alliance.
“We will not allow anyone to slap NATO’s open-door policy,” she explained.
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According to Sherman, the US delegation told the Russians that any invasion would face “significant cost and consequences far exceeding what they faced in 2014” when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
She added that these measures could include sanctions against major financial institutions, export restrictions, strengthening the position of NATO forces on the territory of allies and increasing security assistance to Ukraine.
The Geneva talks were the first round of several meetings between US officials and US and Russian allies this week.
Monday’s meeting took place without the participation of US European allies, including Ukraine, prompting Sherman and other US officials to involve Ukraine, Europe and NATO in any decisions.
On Monday, Borrell said he had been told that nothing would be agreed without the “cooperation, coordination and strong participation of the European Union”.