Putin Signals Talks With U.S. to Go On as Some Drills End
- Lavrov says some Western proposals are ‘constructive’
- Russia to continue diplomacy as U.S. calls for de-escalation
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President Vladimir Putin countered U.S. warnings that Russia may invade Ukraine within days by staging televised meetings with his foreign and defense ministers that emphasized de-escalation of tensions and continued efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the security crisis.
The comments were the strongest indications yet that the Kremlin will continue talks to ease confrontation in a crisis that’s raised fears of war in Europe. As recently as Sunday, U.S. officials were warning that a Russian invasion of Ukraine may be imminent, though Moscow dismissed that as “hysteria.” The West threatened Russia with severe economic sanctions if it did attack.