The United States believes that bilateral talks with Russia on a massive troop build-up along the Ukrainian border can begin at the beginning of the year.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said this, European Pravda reported, citing the Voice of America.
"We are ready to cooperate diplomatically through several channels," Secretary Blinken said during a news conference Tuesday.
"I think you'll see relatively early in the New Year period of engagement in all of these areas to see if we can move forward diplomatically on differences," Blinken added, referring to the existing U.S.-Russia strategic stability dialogue, the Russia-NATO Council and the OSCE.
The top U.S. diplomat also warned of "massive consequences" if Russia "engages in further acts of aggression against Ukraine."
Meanwhile, Karen Donfried, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, told reporters that the United States and Russia would agree on a specific date to begin negotiations over Moscow's demands that NATO abandon any military activity in Eastern Europe and Ukraine.
But she warned that "we have made it clear that any dialogue must be based on reciprocity, address our concerns about Russia's actions and take place in full coordination with our European allies and partners."
"Let me say that without Europe, there will be no negotiations on European security," Donfried added.
Note that U.S. President Joe Biden warned Putin two weeks ago during a virtual summit that the United States and its allies would impose crushing economic sanctions against Russia if it invaded Ukraine.
Putin, speaking at a meeting of Russia's top military leaders, accused the West of "increasing tensions in Europe."
In upcoming bilateral talks with the U.S., Putin is demanding that NATO deny Ukraine and other former Soviet countries possible membership while limiting its military deployment in Central and Eastern Europe.
Putin said the Kremlin wants "long-term, legally binding guarantees" from the West as opposed to "verbal assurances, words and promises," which he says cannot be trusted.
