From: slider@anashram.com

(CNN)US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in Geneva, Friday that Washington is
committed to a "united, swift and severe response" if Moscow commits
further aggression against Ukraine.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/21/politics/blinken-lavrov-geneva-meeting-ukraine/index.html

The two top diplomats ended their hour and a half bilateral meeting
Friday, during which the US tried to convince Russia to de-escalate the situation at the Ukrainian border where Russia has amassed tens of
thousands of troops and shown signs of a potential invasion into Ukraine.

At a news conference following the meeting with Blinken, Lavrov said that
the US had agreed to send written answers to all of Russia's security
demands.

Blinken will also hold a news conference following his meeting with Lavrov.

"We are, all of us, all equally committed to the path of diplomacy and
dialogue to try to resolve our differences," Blinken said Friday. "But
we're also committed, if that proves impossible and Russia decides to
pursue aggression against Ukraine, to a united, swift and severe response."

Both sides admitted before their talks that neither was expecting a breakthrough on Russia's security demands, which the US and allies have
deemed nonstarters.

Blinken reiterated he didn't expect the US and Russia to resolve their differences in the meeting but said he hoped to keep a diplomatic path to addressing those issues open.

"We're committed to walking that path and resolving our differences peacefully," he said.

Blinken's meeting with Lavrov on Friday followed his meetings in Berlin
with his German, UK and French counterparts and Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

### - wow did ya watch this?? damn!

it sounded just like an ultimatum to moi?

impossible lines being drawn in the sand, lines already crossed that can't
now be backed-up on!?

i mean, russia ain't gonna go away unless they get 'something' that
reassures them, right? versus the west isn't open to even 'considering' compromising on their 'principles' of doing what they're ALREADY doing!? (something which has brought us all TO this very situation!) - and THAT'S
it???

...threats of a "massive" response on our part if russia even so much as 'sneezes' across the border, not helping to lighten the atmosphere any...

ultimately then: no discussion, just IF russia does THIS then WE'LL do
THAT!

and that's where it now all stands???

(talk about pausing on the brink of disaster huh, gee-sus!)

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* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)