Blinken says Ukraine is in no way posing threat to Russia

STOCKHOLM, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said Ukraine is in no way posing a threat to or seeking a confrontation that justifies a Russian military intervention and that it is now on Russia to de-escalate.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting on Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Blinken said the United States is prepared to work with Russia and Ukraine to support a diplomatic process resolution. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin may have an opportunity to speak directly in the near future.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Stockholm; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington)

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