The US Secretary of State said any crossing of Ukraine’s border by Russia would receive a “quick and tough response.”

“We have always been very clear that any crossing of the Ukrainian border by Russian military forces to commit new acts of aggression against Ukraine will require a swift and firm response from the United States and our allies,” Blinken said. A meeting with his German counterpart Annalina Barbock in Berlin.

The US Secretary of State also stated that the West is acting in harmony with Russia. “This unity gives us strength, a strength that Russia does not have and cannot match,” Blinken said.

According to Blinken, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be a leverage against Russia in the conflict over Ukraine. “It is important to note that no gas is flowing through Nord Stream 2, which means that the pipeline is leverage for Germany, the United States and our allies, not Russia,” Blinken said.

The US Secretary of State described the tensions between Ukraine and Russia as “bigger than a conflict between two countries” and “bigger than a clash between Russia and NATO.” It is a crisis with global consequences. And it requires global attention and action.”

The US secretary said he did not view military aid to Ukraine as a provocation to the conflict. “The notion that the supply of military defense equipment to Ukraine by the United States, European countries and NATO constitutes a provocation or a reason for Russia’s actions has turned the world upside down,” Blinken said. In his view, the only thing that matters is that Ukraine can defend itself.

The United States had promised Ukraine additional materials in the event of an invasion by Russia. At the same time, the United States continues to support Ukraine in the field of defense. Russia has called on the West to halt arms deliveries. Moscow says those shipments pose a security risk.

The United States and NATO have accused Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine for months. Russia rejects it every day. Blinkin will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.

In Berlin Blinken discussed the situation regarding Ukraine with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Blinken cautioned that Russia risks reviving divisions from the Cold War.

Blinken also reiterated the US position that Russia is violating the principle that countries can make their own decisions. After all, Russia demands that Ukraine not join NATO. “If Russia violates these principles with impunity, it will take us all back to a more dangerous and unstable time when this continent and this city (Berlin) were divided in two,” he said. “When the danger of war was high above everyone’s heads.”

The US Secretary of State also stated that the West is acting in harmony with Russia. “This unity gives us strength, a strength that Russia does not possess and cannot match,” Blinkin said.

German Foreign Minister Annalina Barbock, in turn, called on Russia to stop the escalation. The only way out of the crisis is political. This path leads only through dialogue, she said. “Unfortunately, Russian behavior speaks a different language. Disturbing activity continues to increase.” She referred to the transfer of Russian forces to the Ukrainian border and maneuvers with Belarus.

“We urgently call on Russia to take steps to reduce the escalation,” Barbock said. And she warned that “any additional aggressive stance and any other aggressiveness will have dire consequences.” According to her, nothing less than the European peace system is at stake. “It is my existence to us. Therefore, we have no choice but to constantly defend it and protect it with a shield. This also applies explicitly if these actions have economic consequences for us.”

A Russian invasion of Ukraine, whatever its scale, would lead to a “disaster for the world”. So said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Like the United States and the European Union, calls for negotiations.

“Don’t doubt. If Russia launched an incursion into Ukraine, no matter what shape or size, I think it would be a disaster not only for Ukraine but also for Russia. It would be a disaster for the world,” he said, adding that London supports Ukraine’s sovereignty.