US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will hold fresh talks today (Tuesday, February 1, 2022) with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, on the Ukraine crisis as Western officials say Russia continues to build a massive military force on the ex-Soviet state’s border.

The call, which will be the first between the top US and Russian diplomats, comes as British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson heads to Kyiv for talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The phone call between Blinken and Lavrov comes a day after the two sides lashed out at each other in a heated discussion on Ukraine at the UN Security Council.

On Monday, January 31, 2022, Moscow sent a letter to Washington on its views, in response to written communications laying out the two sides’ positions that were exchanged over the past two weeks.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed Moscow’s letter, which pointed out that, “It would be unproductive to negotiate in public, so we’ll leave it up to Russia if they want to discuss their response.”

“We remain fully committed to dialogue to address these issues and will continue to consult closely with our Allies and partners, including Ukraine.”
Moscow’s letter to the United States

Moscow kept up its tough line on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, with Russia’s embassy in Washington also stating it will not back down in the face of US sanctions threats over Ukraine.

“We are not going to back away and stand at attention, listening to the threats of US sanctions. Washington, not Moscow, that generates tensions.”
Russia’s Embassy in Washington said on Facebook,

Letter exchange

The call between Lavrov and Blinken comes as Western officials say Russia continues to add more to the already existing 100,000 troops as well as a wide range of war-making equipment already in place at the borders of Ukraine, including inside Moscow ally Belarus.

US officials say Moscow is set up to invade Ukraine, though a final decision has not been made by President Vladimir Putin.

US President, Joe Biden on Monday, January 31, 2022, said that Russia will face “swift and severe consequences” if it invades Ukraine.

“Today in the United Nations, we laid out the full nature of Russia’s threat to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as (to the) core tenets of the rule-based international order,” President Biden said in his office.

“We continue to urge diplomacy as the best way forward, but with Russia continuing its build-up of its forces around Ukraine, we are ready no matter what happens.”
US President – Joe Biden

The call on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, will be the first time that Lavrov and Blinken will speak directly since the United States and NATO handed over their letter to Russia in response to its demands.

Both the US and NATO rejected Moscow’s demand for a guarantee that Ukraine will not join the US-led NATO alliance, and rebuffed its insistence that the United States remove its strategic weapons from Europe.

But the US letter also provided Moscow, a “serious diplomatic path” to resolve the confrontation.

While the US made it clear joining NATO was a choice for Ukraine alone, Blinken said Washington “addressed the possibility of reciprocal transparency measures regarding force posture and Ukraine, as well as measures to increase confidence regarding military exercises and manoeuvres in Europe”.

At the UN Security Council meeting on Monday, January 31, 2022, Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia said no Russian official had threatened to invade but accused the United States of “whipping up tensions and rhetoric and provoking escalation”.

“The discussions about a threat of war is provocative in and of itself. You are almost calling for this, you want it to happen.”
Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia

Boris Johnson heads to Kyiv

US officials say the Russian threat is real. On Monday, January 31, 2022, both London and Washington warned that among measures that could be taken to punish Russia if it does invade are harsh sanctions on the billionaire oligarchs close to Putin.

On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson will hold talks with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky on the crisis.

Johnson, who is facing a “partygate” scandal over gatherings held at his offices despite lockdown rules, is due to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as he focuses on Britain’s global role in the world, which he has much-touted since Brexit.

“We urge Russia to step back and engage in dialogue to find a diplomatic resolution and avoid further bloodshed,” Johnson said in remarks released ahead of his arrival.

“As a friend and a democratic partner, the UK will continue to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of those who seek to destroy it.”
UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson

Johnson is due to discuss with Zelensky what strategic support Britain can offer to Ukraine.

Already, London has supplied defensive weapons and training personnel to Ukraine, though ministers have said that the deployment of combat troops is unlikely.