Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the US and its allies have ignored Russia's top security demands, but added that Moscow remains open to more talks with the West on easing soaring tensions over Ukraine.
His remarks came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and urged the “immediate Russian de-escalation and the withdrawal of troops and equipment from Ukraine's borders”, the State Department said.
Mr Putin argued it is possible to negotiate an end to the standoff if interests of all parties, including Russia’s security concerns, are taken into account.
He blasted the West's refusal to consider Kremlin demands for guarantees that Nato will not expand to Ukraine, will not deploy weapons near the Russian border and will roll back its forces from Eastern Europe.
The Russian leader said Ukraine’s accession to Nato could lead to a situation in which Ukrainian authorities launch a military action to reclaim control over Crimea or areas controlled by Russia-backed separatists in the country’s east.
“Imagine that Ukraine becomes a Nato member and launches those military operations,” Mr Putin said. “Should we fight Nato then? Has anyone thought about it?”
The West wants to prevent what it sees as a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine in the next few weeks. Moscow denies it intends to carry out such an attack, despite amassing more than 100,000 troops along its border with the former Soviet republic.
In the call between Mr Blinken and Mr Lavrov, the US diplomat urged Russia to pursue a diplomatic path and stressed his country's willingness to continue negotiations on mutual security concerns, the State Department said.
“The secretary emphasised the US willingness, bilaterally and together with allies and partners, to continue a substantive exchange with Russia on mutual security concerns, which we intend to do in full co-ordination with our partners and allies,” a statement read.
“He further reiterated the US commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of all countries to determine their own foreign policy and alliances.”
Mr Blinken and Mr Lavrov met for talks in Geneva last month.
A State Department official said Mr Blinken told his Russian counterpart that Washington and its allies were ready to sit down and discuss the proposals both sides have set out in a series of letters to resolve the crisis.
The discussions "will be best advanced by de-escalation of Russia's build up military forces on Ukraine's borders", the official reported Mr Blinken as saying to Mr Lavrov.
However, the official said, "nothing we heard would give any indication that we would see a change in the coming days" in terms of de-escalation.
"We continue to hear those assurances that Russia is not planning to invade, but certainly every action we see says otherwise, with the continued buildup of troops and heavy weapons moving to the border," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Speaking after talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban in the Kremlin, Mr Putin said it’s still possible to find a settlement that would take every party’s concerns into account.
He said French President Emmanuel Macron may soon visit Moscow as part of renewed diplomatic efforts following their call on Monday.
Mr Orban, who has forged close ties with Mr Putin, putting Nato member Hungary in a unique position, stressed that no European leader wants a war in the region and voiced hope for a settlement.
The Hungarian leader has avoided taking a definitive stance on the build-up of Russian troops and some of his opponents at home criticised his trip to Moscow as a betrayal of Hungary’s interests and western alliances.
Russia's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the troop movements along Ukraine’s border were ordinary “manoeuvres” and “exercises”.
The US, not Russia, was “escalating tension” by presenting them as an “imminent danger to Ukraine”, he said in New York on Tuesday.
Nato members meanwhile were sending a “massive build-up of weapons to Ukraine”, he added.
He spoke with reporters as Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for February.
It is a largely administrative role, but Russian diplomats may be able to slow-walk requests from other council members dealing with the crisis this month.
Still, any action from the council is unlikely, as Russia, together with its frequent partner China, can veto outcomes from the chamber.
The council has met frequently to discuss Ukraine, notably in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.
In March that year, Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution opposing a referendum on the status of the peninsula. China abstained.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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