WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s prime diplomat will visit Kyiv this week after talks with Russia led to a stalemate final week amid considerations in Washington that Moscow is getting ready to invade Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department stated on Tuesday.
Blinken then heads to Berlin for a gathering with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to be adopted by a gathering with the Transatlantic Quad, the division stated in an announcement, referring to a format that includes the United States, Britain, France and Germany.
Blinken will “talk about latest diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter additional Russian aggression towards Ukraine, together with Allies’ and companions’ readiness to impose huge penalties and extreme financial prices on Russia,” it stated.
Biden has warned of extreme financial penalties for Moscow if Russia, which has massed troops close to Ukraine’s borders, invades its neighbour. Russia has denied any plans to assault.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Timothy Heritage)
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