The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, said that Russia wants diplomacy, not war, after the American call to "return to the negotiating table" and not attack Ukraine.
"We chose the path of diplomacy decades ago," Lavrov said in an interview broadcast on several Russian media.
He said that Russia must work with everyone and that this is its principle.
"If it's up to Russia, there won't be a war. We don't want wars. But we won't allow our interests to be trampled upon, ignored either," Lavrov said.
The build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders in recent weeks has fueled fears of an invasion. Russia denies planning an attack.
US President Joseph Biden has warned that there is a possibility that Russia will invade Ukraine next month.
The USA has asked for a session of the UN Security Council on the crisis over Ukraine to be held on Monday.
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