U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and diplomats from France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. discussed written responses to Russian proposals on security and Normandy format in a phone call, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in Friday’s readout.

“Participants discussed the written U.S. and NATO responses to Russia, the Normandy meeting in Paris on January 26, and our continued commitment to diplomacy,” Price said. “They agreed on the importance of continued close coordination and solidarity in the face of Russia’s unprovoked military buildup on Ukraine’s borders, and reiterated that any further military incursion into Ukraine would face swift, severe and coordinated consequences.”

Participating in Thursday’s call with Sherman were French Foreign Ministry Secretary François de la Trey, German Foreign Office State Secretary Andreas Michelis, and Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary Ettore Sé. Key and the UK Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa and North America James Cleverley

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan conveyed Washington’s response to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Glushko.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia was reviewing the response, but stressed that the United States had not answered the main question of NATO not expanding eastward in its response to Russia’s advice on security guarantees.

Moscow issued security recommendations for NATO and the United States in late 2021 as tensions escalated around Ukraine. It specifically asked for assurances that the alliance would not expand eastward. The United States insists it will not allow anyone to lash out at NATO’s open-door policy.

Complete News Source : Business Standard