Tensions over a Russian troop buildup along the border of Ukraine have been a focus of Blinken's weeklong Europe trip and topped the agenda of his meeting Wednesday with NATO counterparts in Latvia. The Ukrainian government is seeking to align with NATO and the West.
"We're also urging Ukraine to continue to exercise restraint because, again, the Russian playbook is to claim provocation for something that they were planning to do all along," he said. The European Union's Parliament approved a nonbinding resolution in April to cut off Russia from the so-called SWIFT system of international payments if its troops entered Ukraine.
Apart from targeting Russia for sanctions, Blinken said that "NATO is prepared to reinforce its defenses on the eastern flank." He did not elaborate. The military organization already has forces stationed in the Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -- and Poland.
This guy is trying to start world war 3
Ivans have been fighting for 500 years!
Everyone saw this coming. The big question is what will the sanctions be? Are sanctions enough?
Dictator Putrid
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