Blinken calls on Moscow to end military escalation around Ukraine

19.01.2022 09:40

Ukrinform

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to end the military escalation around Ukraine and continue the diplomatic process.

That’s according to an official statement released by the U.S. State Department following a phone call of the two top diplomats, Ukrinform reports.

"The Secretary stressed the importance of continuing a diplomatic path to de-escalate tensions surrounding the deeply troubling Russian military build-up in and near Ukraine," the State Department said.

It is reported that the parties discussed the January 10 Strategic Stability Dialogue, January 12 NATO-Russia Council, and January 13 OSCE Permanent Council meetings.

Blinken also reaffirmed the unshakable U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and underscored that “any discussion of European security must include NATO Allies and European partners, including Ukraine.”

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Tuesday the U.S. State Department announced Antony Blinken would meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on January 19.