Sullivan urges Russia to de-escalate
By Morgan Chalfant - 12/20/21 01:54 PM EST
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan encouraged Russia to de-escalate its troop buildup on the border with Ukraine in a phone call with his Russian counterpart on Monday.
Sullivan spoke with Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, and “indicated U.S. readiness to engage in diplomacy through multiple channels, including bilateral engagement, the NATO-Russia Council, and the OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe],” according to a White House statement on the phone call.
“[Sullivan] made clear that any dialogue must be based on reciprocity and address our concerns about Russia’s actions, and take place in full coordination with our European Allies and partners,” the White House continued. “He also noted that substantive progress can only occur in an environment of de-escalation rather than escalation.”
Sullivan has spoken with Ushakov twice in less than a week as the U.S. looks to ward off a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on the border with Ukraine, sparking concerns it could further invade after the 2014 seizure of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/586597-sullivan-urges-russia-to-de-escalate
