Faced with the growing threat of an invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, declared on Saturday February 12 that he would meet during the day with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs , Sergei Lavrov. An interview that comes the day after alarmist statements by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who said that Russia was now in a position to launch a major offensive, raising the specter of a war more than ever. in Europe.
Speaking from Fiji, where he was attending a meeting with leaders from the Pacific region, Antony Blinken explained that if Russia was really willing to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means, the United States was ready to play their role in this process. The head of American diplomacy intends to ask Mr. Lavrov to respond to the proposals submitted by Washington to try to resolve the crisis:
“So far we have seen only an escalation from Moscow. We are at a key moment, we are prepared for any eventuality. »
Washington has also prepared for the possibility that Moscow chooses aggression, Mr. Blinken announced. He reiterated that the United States and its allies would quickly impose heavy economic sanctions on Russia if it invaded Ukraine: “If President Putin decides to take military action, we will quickly impose severe economic sanctions, in coordination with our allies and partners around the world”warned the head of the American diplomacy. “We will strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, we will strengthen our allies on the eastern wing of NATO. »
New phone call between Biden and Putin
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, must also speak by telephone on Saturday evening in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, after talks on Friday with the leaders of several allied countries of the United States. , including France. Reporting on this call, the Elysée declared that Western leaders had reaffirmed their desire to favor diplomacy, dialogue and deterrence.
But several Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Estonia and Canada, have already asked their nationals to leave Ukraine. The European Union recommended, on Friday, non-essential staff of its representation in Kiev to leave Ukraine to telework from abroad. Russia has added to the concern by announcing to reduce its diplomatic personnel there, arguing, it, possible ” Provocation “ western countries or from Kiev.
Kiev calls not to panic
On the Kiev side, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy declared on Saturday that he was “extremely important to keep calm” and that it was necessary “avoid actions that destabilize the situation and sow panic”according to a statement from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. “Ukrainian Armed Forces are monitoring the situation and are ready to respond to any attack on the territorial integrity of Ukraine”added Ukrainian diplomacy.
Kyiv assured “to be in contact twenty-four hours a day with all key partners” in order to quickly receive security information. “We continue to work to lower the tension and mobilize the support of our international partners in order to keep Russia within the diplomatic framework”assured the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.