The United States believes bilateral talks with Russia over its massive troop buildup along the Ukrainian border could start in January, said the State Department's top diplomats, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the U.S. and its allies for tensions in the region.
"We're prepared to engage diplomatically through multiple channels," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a press conference Tuesday.
"I think you'll see relatively early in the new year engagements in all of those areas, to see if we can advance the differences diplomatically," added Blinken, referring to the existing U.S.-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue and through the NATO-Russia Council, as well as through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The top diplomat also warned of "massive consequences" if Russia "engages in further acts of aggression against Ukraine."
