Anna Ringstrom, Humeyra Pouk

STOCKHOLM (Reuters] – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Russian counterparts on Thursday in order to confront him about the “serious” consequences that Russia might suffer if it invades Ukraine, and urge him to find a diplomatic way out of this crisis.

Blinken warned Sergei Lavrov the Russian Foreign Minister at a Stockholm conference, one day after Washington had declared it was prepared to respond with resoluteness, even using hard-hitting sanctions in case of an attack by Russia.

Before meeting with Lavrov, Blinken stated to reporters that diplomacy is the best way to avoid crisis.

Russia and Ukraine are required to fulfill all obligations under the 2014 Minsk Peace Process. It was created in order to end wars between pro-Russian separatists, and Ukrainian government forces.

Blinken stated that Washington would facilitate the process, however, Russia could pursue confrontation.

Reporters were told by Lavrov that Moscow is open to dialogue with Kyiv. According to him, “We do not desire any conflict,” as stated President Putin.

FLASHPOINT

As relations between Russia and Western Europe have deteriorated to the lowest point in three decades, Ukraine is now the most important flashpoint. Kyiv asserts that Russia is now home to more than 90,000.

Moscow claims that Kyiv is pursuing its own military buildup. Moscow dismissed suggestions that it was preparing to strike Ukraine with inflammatory language and defended the right of Kyiv to place troops wherever it sees fit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will be obliged to act if NATO places missiles in Ukraine, which could strike Moscow within minutes.