U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently told NBC News that the Biden administration warned Russia of great repercussions if they pursue "acts of aggression toward Ukraine."
Russia's positioning of nearly 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border has sparked fears of a potentially devastating European conflict, according to Yahoo.
"We call on Russia to de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities as President Biden did in his call with President Putin on Dec. 7," government officials said, according to Yahoo.
The troop movements have triggered alarm over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, according to Yahoo.
"Any use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law," government officials said, according to Yahoo. "Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response."
Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European Affairs Karen Donfried will travel to Ukraine and Russia this week to further diplomatic discussions, according to Yahoo.
"[W]hat the president made very clear to President Putin, what I've made very clear to Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov — my counterpart— is that we are looking at and we are prepared to take the kinds of steps we've refrained from taking in the past that would have massive consequences for Russia," Blinken told NBC News. "If Russia continues to take reckless and aggressive actions, we will respond. And not only us; partners and allies around the world."
