The United States and Russia today did not make significant progress in the negotiations on the Ukraine crisis, but they are now on a "clearer path" to understanding the other side's positions, said the head of American diplomacy, Anthony Blinken, after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva.
Blinken told reporters that today's conversation with Lavrov was "honest and meaningful" and added that he presented several ideas of Washington for increasing security and in which areas the two sides could find a common language, reports world agencies.
"We did not expect that there would be any major developments today, but I believe that we are now on a clearer path towards understanding the other side's position," said Blinken.
He stated that Lavrov insisted again that Russia is not planning an invasion of Ukraine, but added that the US and its allies are not convinced of this.
"We are looking at what is visible to everyone, actions and actions are key, not words," said the US Secretary of State.
Lavrov said that the meeting was "constructive and useful" and added that the US agreed to respond in writing to Moscow next week to the demands on non-expansion of NATO to Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.
This could delay a possible Russian aggression against Ukraine by several days, according to the Associated Press.
Blinken hinted at a new meeting with Lavrov shortly after the delivery of the US response to Russia's demands.
Lavrov declined to characterize the US promise to deliver a written response to Moscow's demands next week.
"I cannot say whether we are on the right track or not. We will know that when we receive a written response from the USA to all our proposals," Lavrov said.
Blinken said the US would be open to a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Joseph Biden, if it would be "useful and productive".
The US and NATO allies have repeatedly promised that in the event of an invasion, Russia will face "severe consequences" such as harsh economic sanctions, but not military action.
Today, Blinken repeated that warning ahead of talks with Lavrov, saying that the US and its allies are committed to diplomacy, but that they will respond "uniformly, quickly and strongly if that proves impossible and if Russia decides to start aggression against Ukraine."
Blinken and Lavrov met in an attempt to reduce tensions, at a time when concerns are growing that Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine.
Tensions have risen since Russia deployed around 100.000 troops and heavy weapons near the border with Ukraine. Kiev and the West fear that the build-up of Russian forces near Ukraine means Moscow is preparing an invasion.
Although it denies that it is planning an attack on neighboring Ukraine, Moscow has demanded that NATO commit not to expand into that country and other former Soviet republics, not to deploy weapons in those territories and that the alliance's forces withdraw from Central and Eastern Europe.
Washington and its allies decisively rejected Moscow's demands at last week's negotiations between representatives of Russia and the US and NATO.
The Russian Foreign Ministry repeated those demands today, while the State Department released three documents, accusing Russia of trying to restore the former Soviet Union through intimidation and the use of force.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ridiculed the claims, stating that they were apparently prepared by the Orwellian "Ministry of Truth", alluding to the famous novel "1984" by the British writer George Orwell.
Lavrov said that he "hopes that not everyone in the State Department worked on those materials and that there were some who worked on the essence and content" of the Russian proposals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia rejected the claims of the US that it seeks to restore the Soviet empire and sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, stating that it is the West that thinks in terms of spheres of influence.
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