Russian invasion of Ukraine would be met with ‘swift and severe consequences’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday, the Department of State confirmed in a statement.

“He emphasized that further invasion of Ukraine would be met with swift and severe consequences and urged Russia to pursue a diplomatic path,” the statement reads.

BREAKING: Russian President Vladimir Putin says the U.S. and its allies have ignored Russia's main security demands in his first comments on the standoff with the West over Ukraine in more than a month. Putin's demands included limits on NATO expansion. https://t.co/FYduhRSB0X
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 1, 2022

The statement comes after Britain, Poland and Ukraine held talks to strengthen their trilateral cooperation in the wake of a potential Russian military intervention.

Leaders from Poland and Ukraine met in Kyiv on Tuesday for discussions, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to arrive in the capital later in the day.

Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he hopes the country will “be able to officially launch a new regional format of cooperation Ukraine-Poland-UK” and that “in the context of ongoing Russian aggression, we should sign a trilateral document on cooperation to strengthen regional security.”