Ukraine, U.S. working out diplomatic ways to avert Russian invasion threat, envoy says
Ukraine and the United States are working out a diplomatic way to deter a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova said in an interview with the LB.ua news media outlet.
However, according to the diplomat, it is clear to the West that there is a threat to the sovereignty of Ukraine, therefore it is “ready for Plan B.”
“Now we altogether, Ukraine, the United States, the West, are working on Plan A, a diplomatic deterrence, so that we don’t have to switch to Plan B, for which everyone is also actively preparing,” Markarova said.
At the same time, the ambassador did not disclose details about “Plan B.”
She said the United States is actively engaging with Russia to get the Kremlin to stop threatening open war against Ukraine.
“For the United States and the entire civilized world, war is not a desirable scenario for developments,” Markarova said. “At the same time, there is an understanding that there is a threat to Ukrainian sovereignty, and the United States is not ready to sacrifice (Ukraine’s sovereignty).”
International media have speculated that Russia may invade Ukraine in early 2022, in an operation that could involve up to 175,000 Russian soldiers.
Both U.S. and European officials have expressed concern over the situation. U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that the White House is working out “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.”
Ambassadors from the G7 advanced economies issued an official statement on Dec. 12, warning the Kremlin that there would be “massive consequences and a severe cost” if Russia carried out further military aggression against Ukraine.
In addition, in a resolution adopted on Dec. 16, the European Parliament called for the imposition of “severe economic and financial sanctions against the Russian government to address immediate threats, rather than waiting for another invasion to take place before taking action.”
International media have speculated that Russia may invade Ukraine in early 2022, in an operation that could involve up to 175,000 Russian soldiers.
Both U.S. and European officials have expressed concern over the situation. U.S. President Joe Biden has announced that the White House is working out “the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.”
Ambassadors from the G7 advanced economies issued an official statement on Dec. 12, warning the Kremlin that there would be “massive consequences and a severe cost” if Russia carried out further military aggression against Ukraine.
In addition, in a resolution adopted on Dec. 16, the European Parliament called for the imposition of “severe economic and financial sanctions against the Russian government to address immediate threats, rather than waiting for another invasion to take place before taking action.”
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