Blinken and Lavrov hold call as efforts to avert a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine continue
CNN
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov their latest call on Tuesday where the US expressed a willingness to "continue a substantive exchange" as diplomatic efforts continue amid the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine with thousand of troops massed on the country's border.
Blinken made clear the United States wants "to continue a substantive exchange with Russia on mutual security concerns" in the call, according to a State Department readout.
"He further reiterated the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the right of all countries to determine their own foreign policy and alliances," the readout from spokesperson Ned Price said.
A CIA assessment circulated among US officials this week concluded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likely judges he can get away without defining a post-war plan — even as the Biden administration has launched a full-court press to pressure him to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.