US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba in a telephone conversation discussed ways to counter the threats allegedly emanating from the Nord Stream 2 (SP-2) gas pipeline and a comprehensive “package of containing Russia.” This is stated in a message posted on Friday, January 7, on the website of the Ukrainian department.
“The parties discussed ways to counter security threats posed by the Russian geopolitical project Nord Stream 2, as well as the implementation of a comprehensive package of deterring the Russian Federation from a new wave of war in Europe, the key elements of which are tough economic sanctions and assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” from the material.
The Secretary of State confirmed Washington’s readiness to continue “concrete actions to strengthen the security” of Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted.
The interlocutors also discussed the settlement of the situation in Donbass within the framework of the Minsk process and the Normandy format (Russia, Germany, Ukraine and France). Kuleba assured Blinken that Ukraine “is not planning any offensive operations” in the Russian Federation.
According to Blinken, the United States is making maximum diplomatic efforts “to prevent the expansion of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and a new wave of war in Europe.”
In addition, the heads of the foreign ministries have coordinated in detail the positions of Ukraine and the United States on the eve of diplomatic contacts with Russia next week.
At the same time, the website of the State Department notes that Blinken “discussed the possible responses of the United States and its allies to the buildup of military power by Russia along the borders of Ukraine.”
Earlier that day, the Secretary of State announced that the United States and its allies in negotiations on security with the Russian Federation will continue to actively seek a diplomatic relaxation of tensions around Ukraine. Blinken noted that the United States will give a decisive response to further Russian aggression, but a diplomatic solution is still possible and preferable.
It also became known on January 7 that the commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could be postponed for political reasons. As noted by experts, disputes about “excessive dependence” on Russia in the issue of gas supplies may be provoked, among other things, by a decrease in the transit of Russian gas to Europe in the second half of the year.
The construction of SP-2 was completed on September 10. It was built from Russia to Germany along the Baltic seabed with the aim of direct gas supplies to Europe. The EU countries mainly support the project and participate in its implementation. The Baltic states, Poland, the USA and Ukraine are opposed.
In recent weeks, a number of Western media outlets have reported about the alleged plans of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. So, on December 4, the American newspaper The Washington Post, citing officials in the US administration, reported that Russia allegedly intends to invade Ukraine at the beginning of next year, using “up to 175 thousand troops.”
Moscow has repeatedly rejected such information. So, on December 23, during a press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin added that because of such statements, one gets the impression that the Ukrainian side is “preparing a third operation” in Donbass.
Russian-American talks on strategic stability and security issues will be held on January 10 in Geneva. Thereafter, on January 12, the issue of European security and the situation in Ukraine will be discussed at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council and on January 13 with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
