Russia needs to make a choice: de-escalation and diplomacy or confrontation and consequences – Sherman

Photo АР

The Russian Federation has not committed to de-escalation at the Ukrainian border after two rounds of diplomatic talks this week.

The corresponding statement was made by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, CNN informs.

The US acknowledges that it is still not clear whether Moscow intends to use the talks as an excuse to claim that diplomacy has not worked.

Sherman also said that the Russia-NATO Council meeting ended with “a sober call from NATO allies to Russia” to respond to the opportunities offered by the international community to de-escalate the situation on the border with Ukraine and choose the path of diplomacy.

Read also: Russia’s Military Escalation Against Ukraine (LIVE UPDATES)

However, as noted, the United States and its Western allies do not yet know what goals Russian President Vladimir Putin is pursuing after diplomatic meetings.

“We are still ready to interact with Russia. The high pace of bilateral and multilateral engagement this week has demonstrated that the US, our allies and partners are not playing for time. Russia needs to make a choice: de-escalation and diplomacy or confrontation and consequences” – Sherman said.

To remind, Jens Stoltenberg previously said that during the negotiations in Brussels there was a serious discussion regarding Ukraine.