US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva, Switzerland, January 21, 2022. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS

US secretary of state has warned that in case of a Russian attack on Ukraine, it would be met with a "severe and a united response."

Iran PressEurope: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after talks with Russia's foreign minister on Friday that Moscow would face a "swift, severe and a united response" if it attacks Ukraine.

Blinken said after the talks in Geneva that Washington had agreed to provide written comments to Russia after Moscow demanded security guarantees, including a pledge that Ukraine will never be able to join NATO, Reuters reported.

He described Friday's talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, intended to reduce tensions that have risen since Russia massed troops near Ukraine's border, as frank and useful.

"We've been clear - if any Russian military forces move across Ukraine's border, that's a renewed invasion. It will be met with swift, severe and a united response from the United States and our partners and allies," Blinken told a news conference in Geneva.

Blinken said Washington had sought during Friday's talks to determine whether Moscow was prepared to take a diplomatic path to defuse tensions over Ukraine.

Both sides agreed it was important for the diplomatic process to continue, he said.

Lavrov said after meeting Blinken that he hoped that emotions would cool down over Ukraine and reiterated that Moscow poses no threat to its neighbor.

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