US-Russia Foreign Ministers to Meet on 23rd... US Warns Russia Will Be 'Isolated' if It Invades Ukraine

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Amid rising tensions surrounding Ukraine, the US and Russian foreign ministers will hold talks on the 23rd (local time).

On the afternoon of the 18th, the White House confirmed the meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated during a press briefing that "the door to diplomacy is open."

However, the US side drew a line, saying Russia's intentions are unclear. Psaki said, "It is not clear whether Russia is sitting at the table in good faith."

The location of the meeting has not yet been disclosed. Reports suggest it will be in Geneva, Switzerland.

On the same day, the US also continued its warnings to Russia.

Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said during a press briefing that if Russia invades Ukraine, it "will become an international pariah," isolated from international financial markets and deprived of the most sophisticated technological resources. He specifically mentioned severe capital outflows, increased currency pressure, soaring prices, higher borrowing costs, economic contraction, and weakened production capacity.

In an interview with CNN, Deputy Advisor Singh also said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin weaponizes energy supplies, it would be a "strategic mistake." He warned that if China supports Russia against Western sanctions led by the US, it would be a "very bad signal."

US President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a national address regarding the Ukraine situation in the afternoon. Originally planned for 4 PM Eastern Time, it has not yet started. The White House stated, "We will announce updates on our efforts to pursue deterrence and diplomacy, as well as on Russia's military buildup near the Ukrainian border."

Before the speech, President Biden spoke with allied leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.