Wendy Sherman travels to Geneva for US-Russia strategic talks
According to the US State Department, the US Deputy Secretary of State will travel to Switzerland and Belgium from January 8 to 13 (January 18 to 23).
The US State Department statement said the trip was a continuation of US diplomacy with European allies and partners to take a united approach to increasing Russia’s unwarranted military presence along Ukraine’s borders and joint efforts to encourage Russia to choose diplomacy and reduce tensions.
According to the statement, Sherman will head a US delegation to the US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue during his January 10 visit to Geneva.
The bilateral Strategic Stability Talks had already taken place in July and September 2021, following the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in June 2021.
The NATO-Ukraine Commission will also meet on January 10, with US Ambassador Julie Smith representing Washington.
The US State Department said in a statement that Sherman would travel to Brussels after Geneva on January 11-12 to consult with NATO leaders, NATO allies and EU officials to continue US coordination with allies over a possible Russian attack on Ukraine. European security try.
The State Department claimed that Wendy Sherman’s presence in the Strategic Stability Talks, NATO and EU consultations was part of Washington’s diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions over Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and its continued aggression against Ukraine.
The Russia-US Strategic Security Talks are scheduled for January 10, 2022, the NATO-Russia Council meeting on January 12, and the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on January 13.
More than 100 British troops are currently stationed in Ukraine as training and advisory personnel, along with Polish, US and Canadian troops.
The gathering of about 100,000 troops along with Russian military equipment on the Ukrainian border has raised concerns that Moscow is preparing to attack the country.
The Donbas region is located in the east of Ukraine with a Russian population, and since 2014, the Russians of this region have established the two self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and have formed local governments independent of the Ukrainian government.
Russia has repeatedly called on the Ukrainian government to negotiate with representatives of the two regions to reach an agreement and resolve disputes, but Kiev denies accusing Moscow of supporting and encouraging separatists and negotiating with representatives of these regions.
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