Simon Lewis

BERLIN, (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken has arrived in Berlin to hold talks with allies. He was there in a diplomatic push for defusing tensions between Moscow and Ukraine. The visit comes a day following warnings that Russia may attack Ukraine “very quickly”.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin would make a military push into Ukraine. However, he warned that a large-scale invasion would cause a costly response for Russia’s economy and security.

Blinken, a man who promised Washington in Kyiv that Washington would maintain diplomacy until the end, said Wednesday that it would hold talks with France, Britain, and Germany before going to Geneva for a meeting with Sergei Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister).

According to a top State Department official, the speech will be in Berlin and attempt to place in context tensions in Europe.

This speech is intended to be addressed at policymakers as well as the European public. It will attempt to portray the Ukraine crisis as an important moment in the international rules-based order.

Blinken, America’s top diplomat will claim that Russia’s actions pose the question as to where Moscow’s attempts to rebuild the Soviet Union will cease, however Washington continues to believe that a diplomatic solution can be found.

The U.S.-Russia talks last week did not result in a breakthrough

Germany warned Tuesday of its willingness to stop Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Moscow invades Ukraine.

Blinken claimed Wednesday that Russia’s buildup of tens, of thousands of troops had been done without provocation.

According to the Kremlin, tensions around Ukraine were increasing. It was waiting for an official U.S. response on its broad demands for security assurances from the West.

Wednesday’s pessimistic remarks highlighted the divide between Washington, Moscow and the negotiations between Lavrov and Blinken on Friday. These talks were “probably the last stop prior to the train crash”, according to a Russian foreign-policy analyst.

Russia also sent troops to Belarus as part of what it called joint military exercises. This gives it the possibility of attacking Ukraine’s neighbours from the south, north and south.

It seized Crimea eight years ago and supported separatist forces that seized large parts of east Ukraine. However, it consistently denies any intent to invade now.

Russia feels threatened by Kyiv’s encroaching ties to the West, it says. Russia wants Ukraine to be prevented from joining NATO, and the alliance to withdraw troops and weapons from Eastern Europe.