The best possible thing that could happen is for the cessation of hostilities to really take root, and to be sustained, for the humanitarian assistance to flow and then for the negotiations to start.

Antony Blinken

Categorized in : Top News

Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible, and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours, we obviously can not predict the future, we don't know exactly what is going to happen. But the risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands.

We're continuing to draw down our embassy, we will continue that process. And we've also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now.

As we've said before, we're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time -- and to be clear that includes during the Olympics, we're continuing to draw down our embassy. We will continue that process. And we've also been very clear that any American citizens who remain in Ukraine should leave now.

What's at stake is not simply, as important as it is, Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence but very basic principles that have, in a hard-fought way after two World Wars and a Cold War, undergirded security, peace and prosperity for countries around the world -- principles like one country can't simply change the borders of another by force ; principles like one country can't simply dictate to another its choices, its policies, with who it will associate ; principles like one country can't exert a sphere of influence to subjugate its neighbors to its will, if we allow those principles to be challenged with impunity, even if it's half a world away in Europe, that will have an impact here as well.

Minsk does not spell out some issues of sequencing when it comes to the steps that the parties need to take.

All told, it sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it.

There is no change. There will be no change, we make clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend, including Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances.

One of the things that we’ve been very clear about.

The alliance is looking at very practical and important measures that it would take in the event of further Russian aggression.

You can choose the path of diplomacy that can lead to peace and security or the path that will lead only to conflict, severe consequences, and international condemnation.

If a single additional Russian force goes into Ukraine in an aggressive way, as I said, that would trigger a swift, a severe and a united response from us and from Europe.

The escalation in fighting only exacerbates a dire humanitarian crisis and the suffering of the Yemeni people.

We have been working overtime to try to understand what happened and who might be responsible, while we have reached some significant interim findings, we are not done. We will continue the mission to investigate these incidents and provide access to world-class care for those who needit.

If we conclude and the Russians conclude that the best way to resolve things is through a further conversation between them, we’re certainly prepared to do that.

We’re committed to walking that path, to resolving our differences peacefully and I hope to test that proposition today.

We are, all of us, all equally committed to the path of diplomacy and dialogue to try to resolve our differences, but we're also committed, if that proves impossible and Russia decides to pursue aggression against Ukraine, to a united, swift and severe response.

We are going to continue to do everything we can, with all the resources we can bring to bear, to understand, again, what happened, why, and who might be responsible, and we are leaving no stone unturned.

We know that there are plans in place to increase that force even more on very short notice, and that gives President Putin the capacity also on very short notice to take further aggressive action against Ukraine and that, of course, has gotten not only our attention, but it's gotten the attention of virtually all of our allies and partners and not just in Europe, even beyond.

There is the path of diplomacy and dialogue to try to resolve whatever differences there are peacefully through diplomacy, clearly the preferable path, clearly the most responsible path and the one that we would prefer, but there is also the path if Russia chooses to renew aggression, of conflict, confrontation and consequences for Russia.

I think some of this is North Korea trying to get attention. It’s done that in the past. It’ll probably continue to do that, but we are very focused with allies and partners in making sure that they and we are properly defended and that there are repercussions, consequences for these actions by North Korea.