He was speaking on the eve of a meeting in Brussels of EU foreign ministers who are expected to give further warning to Moscow over its buildup of 100,000 troops and heavy weapons along the border with Ukraine.
There were alarm bells in Ukraine over the weekend after Germany’s navy chief, Kay-Achim Schönbach, said Vladimir Putin deserved respect and it was “nonsense” to think Russia was ready to pour troops into Ukraine.
Schönbach resigned on Saturday , but his remarks rattled Nato and Blinken did a round of talk show appearances in an attempt to dampen concerns.
“I can tell you that the Germans very much share our concerns and are resolute and being determined to respond – and to respond swiftly, effectively, and in a united way,” Blinken told NBC. “I have no doubts about that.”
Blinken will brief the EU ministers by video link today on his talks last week with the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva.
This story is from the January 24, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the January 24, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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