WASHINGTON – The Biden administration said Friday that it was consulting with Congress and allies on a range of options aimed at dissuading Russia from carrying out a potential attack on Ukraine.

Joe Biden, President of the United States, stated Friday that his administration had prepared actions to prevent Russia from conducting its second invasion in Ukraine in a decade.

Ukraine recently warned Washington, Europe and allies about Russian troops that have been assembled along its borders. Moscow accuses Kyiv, however, of trying to build up its military presence at the border.

Biden hopes that the U.S. can stop this situation from spiraling out of control.

“What I am doing is putting together what, I believe to be, will be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people believe he may do,” Biden told reporters Friday after an address at the White House.

Jen Psaki White House Press Secretary told reporters later that day that the Biden Administration is monitoring the situation along the Russian-Ukrainian border.

We can’t tell from this what Vladimir Putin’s calculus or the Russians’ calculus will be. They did what they did last year. They did what they did in 2014, and we have seen their actions on the border. We will consult our allies and partner and Congress to discuss a variety of options,” Psaki stated in reference to the illegal Russian annexe of Crimea.

In 2014, the seizure and subsequent international outcry sparked a string of sanctions against Moscow. A war broke out in Ukraine’s eastern region between Russian-backed separatists, and the government forces that annexed it.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Russia to de-escalate tensions by first removing its troops from the border.

It is extremely difficult to resolve any diplomatic issue when someone is holding a gun to their head. “So, I believe that’s it,” Blinken stated to a virtual audience Friday.

A top diplomat of the nation warned Russia that Russia would face trouble if it continues its provocation against Ukraine.

Russia’s decision to continue a confrontational path, or if it continues its aggression will have serious consequences. Not only for us but other nations as well. Blinken stated that Russia should consider this, particularly as there are better ways forward. Confrontation is not in anyone’s best interest.”

Earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that any future Russian aggression against Ukraine would come with serious political and economic consequences for Moscow.

“Ministers stated that they support our decisions. Support for territorial integrity and sovereignty [of Ukraine and Georgia]Stoltenberg stated that the NATO summit in Riga (Latvia) was “unwavering”.

Blinken’s comments follow a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Cooperation ministerial in Stockholm.

Lavrov denied that Moscow was planning an attack on Ukraine. He also defended Russia’s right to send troops onto its own territory.

“All are talking about the increase in tension in Europe. In particular, on the Russian-Ukrainian border. “You know what our position is on this matter as President Putin has stated that we do not want conflicts,” Lavrov claimed.