A senior White House official has said the United States is ready to discuss with Russia the two countries' missile systems and military exercises. High-level talks between the United States and Russia on the Ukraine conflict will begin in Geneva on Sunday.
During the week-long talks, Russian officials will also meet with representatives of the Western alliance NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), according to AFP.
US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will attend the talks, while Russia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabakov.A senior White House official said on Saturday that the United States was ready to hold talks with Russia on the two countries' missile systems and military exercises in the Geneva talks.
According to the official, progress on some issues may be possible if the other party is also ready to fulfill its promises.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia had said it felt threatened by the possible installation of a missile system in Ukraine.
He said the United States did not intend to install a missile system in Ukraine, but that a compromise between the two sides was possible if Russia responded.
Last year, Russia deployed thousands of troops along the border with Ukraine, demanding that NATO not advance eastward or establish more military bases in the former Soviet Union.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken said on Friday that Russia was ready to respond to aggression, but that a diplomatic solution to the problem was still possible and a priority if Russia followed suit.
Another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that if Russia succeeded in occupying Ukraine, the United States would deploy more troops to the eastern NATO member states of Poland and the Baltic states.
Matthew Rojansky, director of the American think tank Canon Institute, said the Geneva talks were aimed at preventing further escalation of tensions over Ukraine, rather than reaching a landmark agreement.
He ruled out the possibility of a Russian occupation of Ukraine, but acknowledged the threat of further Russian troop deployments on the border, and said that the Geneva talks sought to strike a balance in the region through effective diplomacy and dialogue. Will go
In a two-way telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Joe Biden threatened dire consequences in the event of an occupation of Ukraine.
The United States is considering imposing sanctions on Putin's close associates in the event of an occupation of Ukraine. Contacts with the system can be disconnected.
