“I am here today not to start a war, but to prevent it.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he was talking to the United Nations about Russia and Ukraine “not to start a war, but to prevent it.”

He urged Russia to use diplomacy as a solution to the crisis.

“And Russia is not only hearing from us,” the US official said. “The international chorus has risen louder and louder.” “If Russia does not invade Ukraine, we will be relieved that Russia has changed course and proved our expectations wrong. This will be a much better outcome than the path we are currently on, and we will gladly accept any criticism of anyone who is directed at us.”

Blinken said he sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggesting that they meet next week in Europe. It also proposes meetings of the Council of NATO, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

“These meetings can pave the way for a summit of key leaders in the context of de-escalation to reach understandings on our common security concerns. As prominent diplomats of our countries, we have a responsibility to make every effort possible for diplomacy to succeed, leaving no stone unturned,” he said. Diplomatic Stone.

He said Russia would likely respond by dismissing that the United States was “fueling hysteria.”

“The Russian government can today, without qualification, evasion, or deviation, declare that Russia will not invade Ukraine, as it has been clearly stated, and declare it plainly to the world — and then prove it by sending your troops, tanks, and planes, back to the hangars, and sending diplomats to the negotiating table.. in In the coming days, the world will remember this commitment… or its rejection.”