Tensions continue to mount as fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine persist globally. Russia has denied it is planning to invade despite massing an estimated 100,000 troops along the border.
Here’s the latest. – On Thursday, Kremlin officials said there was “little ground for optimism” following the US’s response to Russian demands but remain open to dialogue, according to The AP – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US made no concessions in response to Russia’s two main demands: for the US and allies to curb preparation for an invasion and for Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations to be denied entry to NATO, per The AP – Ukrainian, Russian, German and French diplomats met in Paris on Wednesday and agreed more talks should be held in Berlin in two weeks, Reuters reports – On Wednesday, US state department spokesperson Ned Price said the Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, between Russia and Germany will not open if Russia invades Ukraine
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow needed time for review and would not rush to conclusions, but that US and NATO statements describing Russia’s main demands as unacceptable did not leave much room for optimism.
“Based on what our (US and NATO) colleagues said yesterday, it’s absolutely clear that on the main categories outlined in those draft documents … we cannot say that our thoughts have been taken into account or that a willingness has been shown to take our concerns into account,” Peskov said. “But we won’t rush with our assessments.”
Photo via @ReutersUK