Blinken: Success of Geneva talks hinge on Russia deescalating Ukraine threat

Secretary of State Antony Blinken tamped down expectations for talks between Russia and the US over security guarantees, but said any progress is contingent on President Vladimir Putin defusing the military threat to Ukraine. 

“I don’t think we’re going to see any breakthroughs in the coming week,” Blinken said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’re going to be able to put things on the table. Russians will do the same … and we’ll see if there are grounds for moving forward.”

Success of the talks, which begin Monday in Geneva, depend on Russian cooperation and the easing of the menacing military presence along Ukraine’s border. 

“It’s hard to see making actual progress as opposed to talking in an atmosphere of escalation with a gun to Ukraine’s head. So if we’re actually going to make progress, we’re going to have to see de-escalation – Russia pulling back from the threat that it currently poses,” Blinken said. 

And any agreements will hinge on mutual commitments, Blinken said, and the inclusion of European nations in any decision.