U.S., NATO refuse concessions to Russia

The Kremlin confirmed President Vladimir Putin received written responses from the United States and NATO, but he is waiting for proposals from top officials before responding. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the Western powers refused Russian demands to promise not to admit Ukraine to NATO. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said elements of the response could lead to further talks, but overall it leaves “little ground for optimism.” Other Kremlin leaders said they want to avoid war with Ukraine but are concerned about U.S. “aggressions” such as sending arms and troops to the border.

What is happening in Ukraine? While Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia’s 100,000 troops along the border are not yet enough to launch a full-scale invasion, he also called on allies to prioritize hard power as diplomatic talks stall. Several NATO countries have been sending ammunition and soldiers, and the U.S. has placed 8,500 troops on high alert for potential deployment to Ukraine. The Kremlin claims that the United States is using Ukraine as a pawn to threaten Russia and that the troops are being sent to protect the country.

Dig deeper: Read Jill Nelson’s report about the difficult decision for missionaries in Ukraine of whether to evacuate.