By Trevor Hunnicutt and Andrew Osborn

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW /Reuters – U.S. and Russian officials plan to meet security experts on January 10th, in order to address concerns over their military activity and deal with rising tensions regarding Ukraine.

The Biden administration spokesperson announced the date on Monday night. He said that Russia and NATO would also be likely to meet on January 12, while a larger meeting with Washington, Moscow and other European nations was set for January 13.

Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry Sergei Ryabkov confirms these dates and says he hopes that talks in Geneva with the United States would lead to a new process giving Moscow security guarantees.

These guarantees have been a Moscow demand for a while. Moscow has alarmed the West with the massing of tens to thousands of troops in Ukraine within the last two months.

Ryabkov indicated that the Jan. 12 NATO meeting would take place in Brussels. While the Jan. 13, talks would include the Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Ryabkov also stated that this Organisation includes Russia, Ukraine, and other ex-Soviet countries.

CONCERNS REGARDING THE TABLE

Russia’s recent deployment of troops in Ukraine raises concerns that Moscow may launch a new offensive. Moscow was responsible for the 2014 seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and since has supported separatists in Ukraine.

Russia denies plans to attack, but it has stated that it may take unspecified military actions if security requirements aren’t met.

Moscow has expressed concern over the West’s decision to rearm Ukraine. Moscow wants legally binding assurances that NATO will not expand more eastwards. Furthermore, it will ensure certain offensive weapons are not deployed in Ukraine and other neighboring countries.

If Russia invades Ukraine, the U.S. government has pledged economic sanctions. It claims it cannot guarantee that a sovereign country such as Ukraine will never become NATO.

According to a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council who refused to identify herself, Russia could bring its concerns to the table when they sit down to discuss. We will also raise our concerns about Russia’s actions. A spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council stated that no decisions will be made regarding Ukraine without Ukraine.

“There will always be areas that we can work together and others where we won’t. Diplomacy is all about that.

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law an enormous spending bill. It includes $300 million to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces and millions more for European defense.

Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014. It supported a proRussian separatist rebellion in the east. This led to Kyiv losing control over a large area of territory. The conflict, it claims claimed killed 15,000 people.

While major combat was ended by a ceasefire on 15 May 2015, there are still deadly clashes.