The United States still holds out hope for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis
Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks at a press briefing in the White House Press Briefing Room on February 14. (Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA)
US officials say they remain hopeful that diplomacy will prevail amid a possible threat of military action by Russia in Ukraine.
hope in diplomacy
The United States continues to seek a diplomatic solution to defuse the crisis on Ukraine’s borders, the White House said on Monday, but called the continued buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine’s border an obstacle to de-escalation.
“We are actively working to reach a diplomatic solution to de-escalate the crisis,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in response to a question regarding Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments. that the window for diplomacy has not closed.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to negotiate,” adding that the Ukraine crisis is only one part of Russia’s broader security concerns.
“First of all, President Putin has always demanded negotiations and diplomacy,” Peskov told CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen late on Monday. “And in fact, he started the issue of security guarantees for the Russian Federation. And Ukraine is only part of the problem, it is a part of the larger problem of security guarantees for Russia and, of course, President Putin is willing to negotiate,” he said.
Preparing for “military action”
Although diplomatic lines remain open, the State Department made the decision to move the remaining diplomats from Kyiv to western Ukraine because the department felt it was “absolutely necessary” because of the “distinct possibility, perhaps more real than ever, that Russia decides to take military action,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.
During a briefing at the Pentagon, Press Secretary John Kirby said Russian President Vladimir Putin “continues to add” items to his military “menu of options” by land, sea and air.
“I would just say this, that he continues to make progress in his preparation should he choose to go down a military path here, should he choose to invade once more, he’s doing all the things that he would be expected to do to make sure he’s ready for that option. , or options,” Kirby said.
Impact on Wall Street
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 172 points – or 0.5% – on Monday as Wall Street struggled to interpret the financial impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
As the United States announced the closure of the US embassy in Kyiv, US stocks fell.
On the ground in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border represents an “unprecedented challenge for Europe and the world.”
“The escalation on the Ukraine-Russia border is an unprecedented challenge for Europe and on a global level,” said Zelensky, speaking alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “That is why it is very important that our partners support our country financially in the field of defense.”
“I have always reiterated that without Ukraine it is impossible to build security in Europe,” he continued. “Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security and only together can we find some ways how to defend and protect our children,” she added.
