US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has warned Russia that it must choose either diplomacy or confrontation with the West.
She was speaking after talks between Nato and Russia, one of three diplomatic events this week aimed at reducing tension over Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Nato could not cherry-pick Moscow’s demands.
The list of demands includes Ukraine never joining Nato.
Some 100,000 Russian troops have reportedly amassed near the Ukrainian border, prompting fears of an invasion.
Ms Sherman reiterated that the US and other Nato members would never agree to veto Ukrainian admission, pointing out that the military alliance had an open-door policy. The goal of joining Nato is part of Ukraine’s constitution.
But she said there were areas where progress could be made, and that Russia must decide what it wanted to happen next.
“Russia, most of all, will have to decide whether they really are about security, in which case they should engage, or whether this was all a pretext. And they may not even know yet.”
She said that the US and Nato were preparing for every eventuality.
Source:Fiilafmnline/BBC
