US Sec of State Blinken: President Putin’s goal of exerting influence on post-Soviet countries unacceptable
Blinken also recalled Russian aggression against Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, stating that Ukraine faces ‘a renewed threat’ from Russia today. Photo: Antony Blinken/Twitter.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday in an interview with CNN that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective of ‘re-exert[ing] a sphere of influence over countries that previously were part of the Soviet Union is unacceptable.’
We can’t go back to a world of spheres of influence. That was a recipe for instability, a recipe for conflict, a recipe that led to world wars. We’re not going back to that,” Blinken stated.
As I explained to @JakeTapper this morning, there are two paths on Ukraine: a path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve our differences and avoid confrontation, and a path of confrontation and massive consequences for Russia if it renews its aggression.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 9, 2022
He also recalled Russian aggression against Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, stating that Ukraine faces ‘a renewed threat’ from Russia today.
Blinken decried Russian military aggression against Ukraine, calling it a 'threat' to European security on January 7 following a NATO council, stating that Russia invaded neighbouring Georgia and Ukraine and violated international arms control agreements of the last two decades.
The US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue takes place today in Geneva, which will be followed by a NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled for January 12 in Brussels, and the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on January 13.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has emphasised the US’ ‘commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the freedom of sovereign nations to choose their own alliances’ during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on January 9 in Geneva, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced Russia's military aggression against Ukraine as a 'threat' to European security following a NATO council held yesterday, noting that Russia invaded neighbouring Georgia and Ukraine and violated international arms control agreements over the last two decades.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed ways to enhance peace and security in Europe with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani during a phone conversation yesterday, the US State Department spokesperson’s office reports.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that NATO cannot compromise on its right to protect and defend all allies in response to Moscow’s recent demand that the alliance should provide security guarantees, the German Press Agency DPA international reports.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman stated yesterday following the Russia-US Strategic Stability Dialogue (SSD) that the US ‘will not allow anyone to slam closed NATO's open door policy,’ adding that the policy has ‘always been central to the NATO Alliance.'
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and NATO allies with Deputy Secretary-General of NATO Mircea Geoana during a phone call yesterday ahead of the NATO-Russia council meeting scheduled on January 12, the Foreign Ministry of Georgia (FMA) reports.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement calling on Russia to withdraw forces from Georgia, stating that Georgia can rely on its partners in these difficult geopolitical times ‘to continue supporting our sovereignty and territorial integrity.’
Ukraine, Georgia and other states in Europe “have the right to choose the best futures for their people, including an aspiration to join the Euro-Atlantic community and NATO,” the United States Department of State has said ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Ukraine.
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and thirteen years later “nearly 300,000 Georgians are still displaced from their homes,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
Leaked documents allegedly representing NATO and United States’ responses to Russia’s proposals and requests on security guarantees include calls for removing Russian occupying forces from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, a publication by the Spanish daily El Pais shows.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his gratitude to Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili for the support the Georgian government has provided to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion of the country, as the two officials spoke on Thursday.
Manufacturing events and creating false narratives of genocide to justify greater use of military force is a "tactic" Russia has used before, including in Georgia in 2008, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday at a press briefing.