The United States has issued a written response to Russia in hopes of preventing an invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, CNN reported.
"The document we've delivered includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russia's actions that undermine security, a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground," Blinken said, the network reported.
The message was hand-delivered to Putin by U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sulliv, CNN reported.
It "sets out a serious diplomatic path forward should Russia choose it," Blinken told reporters.
It's not clear whether the diplomatic response, which Moscow requested, will affect talks between Russia and the West over the last several weeks over Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine, CNN said.
According to U.S. officials, Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border, CNN reported.
Putin's key demand that the U.S. and NATO commit to rejecting Ukrainian membership in NATO is a "nonstarter," CNN said.
"There is no change. There will be no change," Blinken said of the "open-door policy" toward Ukraine by the U.S. and NATO. "We make clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend, including Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances."
The next move is Putin's, said Blinken, CNN reported.
"I think there are important things to work with if Russia is serious about working," Blinken said. "And that is up to President Putin. We'll see how they respond."
