U.S. and Russia to begin security talks on Jan. 10

U.S. and Russian officials will hold security talks on Jan. 10 amid growing tension over Ukraine, a White House official confirmed.

"We are unified as an Alliance on the consequences Russia would face if it moves on Ukraine. But we are also unified in our willingness to engage in principled diplomacy with Russia," a National Security Council spokesperson told NBC News in a statement.

When the two countries speak, Russia "can put its concerns on the table, and we will put our concerns on the table with Russia's activities as...