US, Russia promise to work to ease Ukraine tensions

GENEVA, Jan 22, (AFP) - Washington and Moscow's top diplomats on Friday agreed to keep working to ease tensions over Ukraine, with the United States promising a written response to Russian security requirements next week and not ruling out a presidential meeting.

As fears grew that Russia could invade its pro-Western neighbour, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed warnings of severe Western reprisals as he met with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva.

Russia's foreign ministry said later that, in his talks with Blinken, Lavrov had warned of “the most serious consequences” if Washington ignored Moscow's security demands.

Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops on the Ukrainian border, denying it plans to invade but demanding security guarantees, including a permanent ban on the country joining NATO.

Blinken told reporters no major breakthroughs had been expected but he believed the two sides were “now on a clear path” to understanding each other's concerns and positions.

Speaking separately, Lavrov told reporters “Blinken agreed that we need to have a reasonable dialogue, and I hope emotions will decrease.” He added that another meeting could be held between the two, but that it was “premature” to start talking about another summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, who met in Geneva last June.