The Latest Breaking News from Antony Blinken

Iran Welcomes US Sanctions Relief but Says it's Too Little

Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday welcomed US sanctions relief intended to entice Iran back to the 2015 nuclear deal, but called it insufficient. On Friday, the Biden administration restored some sanctions relief to Iran’s atomic program as world powers and Tehran continue talks aimed at salvaging the languishing agreement. “Lifting…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 5, 2022

Blinken seeks to keep pressure on China in trip to Australia and Fiji

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to push back on “aggression and coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region during a trip to Australia and Fiji next week, a sign the administration is keeping China high on its agenda even as it finds itself focused on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Tribune News Service · Feb 5, 2022

Blinken to Visit Asia to Emphasize Commitment Despite Ukraine Crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to Asia next week for talks with Indo-Pacific allies, including a meeting of foreign ministers of the four-nation Quad, the State Department said on Friday. Blinken is making the trip despite the mounting crisis over Ukraine and policy analysts say the aim is…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 4, 2022

Putin says US is using Ukraine as a ‘tool’ to contain Russia

Russian president accuses US and its allies of ignoring Moscow’s security demands over Ukraine.

Al Jazeera · Feb 1, 2022

Russia cites 1999 charter text for insistence on 'indivisible security'

Russia said on Tuesday it would insist that Western governments respect a 1999 agreement that no country can strengthen its own security at the expense of others, an issue it argues is at the heart of the Ukraine crisis.

Reuters · Feb 1, 2022

Vladimir Putin says US, NATO ignoring Russian demands but more talks can defuse Ukraine tensions

The Russian leader says Western allies' refusal to heed Russia's demands violates their obligations on security for all nations, but he insists a solution can be found through more talks.

ABC News · Feb 1, 2022

Ukraine crisis: Putin accuses US of ignoring Russian security concerns

In first public comments on crisis since December, Putin says west is using Ukraine as ‘tool to hinder Russia’

The Guardian - UK · Feb 1, 2022

Putin: US, NATO Have Ignored Russia’s Top Security Demands

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that the US and its allies have ignored Russia’s top security demands. In his first comments on the standoff with the West over Ukraine in more than a month, Putin said the Kremlin is still studying the US and NATO's response to the Russian…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 1, 2022

If Russia isn't invading Ukraine, pull back troops now, Blinken tells Lavrov

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a call on Tuesday told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that this would be the time to pull back Russian troops from the border with Ukraine if Moscow is not intending to invade, a senior State Department official told reporters.

Reuters · Feb 1, 2022

Russia is the ‘aggressor’, says White House, but Biden open to more talks with Putin – as it happened

White House dismisses Putin’s criticism of US and allies while Blinken urges Russia to pursue diplomatic path in Ukraine

The Guardian - US · Feb 1, 2022