Blinken Stands With Ukraine, Saying Putin Must Pick War or Peace
- Biden’s top envoy visits Ukraine ahead of Lavrov meeting
- Russia to face ‘severe consequences’ if it attacks: Blinken
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered a show of U.S. support to Ukraine in meetings with the country’s leaders in Kyiv on Wednesday, as the Biden administration seeks to head off a Russian invasion it says could happen at any moment.
Blinken said diplomacy is still the best option, and that his visit is aimed at showing the depth -- and reliability -- of American backing for Ukraine’s government in the face of Russian threats. He said a meeting with Russia’s foreign minister set for Friday will help the Biden administration determine whether Moscow is bent on war or is willing to negotiate over its concerns and deescalate.