Blinken noted that the United States has made it clear that if Russia invaded, the U.S. — in cooperation with its allies — would impose economic sanctions. Further U.S.-led consequences could follow if Russia continues its current operations.
“Now that Russia has moved against Ukraine, so, too, have we moved on our strong and unified response,” Blinken said. “We’ll continue to escalate our sanctions if Russia escalates its aggression toward Ukraine.”
Last week, Blinken announced his plan to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discuss diplomatic solutions. Blinken made it clear, though, that such a meeting would not occur if Russia invaded Ukraine. On Tuesday, Blinken announced that his Feb. 24 meeting with Lavrov had been canceled.
“Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time,” Blinken said.
Blinken noted that the U.S. and its allies continue to be open to a diplomatic solution, averting an “an all-out assault on Ukraine,” should Russia choose to de-escalate.
Kuleba thanked the U.S. for “standing with Ukraine” by way of its economic sanctions, noting that a diplomatic solution was still the preferred solution. “Plan A,” Kuleba said, is to utilize “every tool of diplomacy” to deter Russia; should that fail, “Plan B” is to “fight for every inch of our land in every city and every village.”
Latest News: Russia-Ukraine conflict
Kuleba echoed Blinken’s statement that Putin has brought the world to the brink of its “largest catastrophe since World War II.”
“What stops him is only our unity and resolve,” Kuleba said. “And we can still stop him.”