I updated Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUA today on our engagements with Russia last week and stressed there will be nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine. I applaud Ukraine's commitment to a peaceful resolution and urge Russia to pursue diplomacy as the only way forward. pic.twitter.com/A0cNX7k23m

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 19, 2022

A carefully worded statement from Blinken ...

Had some harsh words for the government of Ukraine to end corruption and improve judiciary. Ukrainians need to stick together, unify the nation in their shared national interest.

Ukraine is in the center of two weeks of talks ... nothing is done without your government all Ukrainians should place trust in a political way forward.

Russia tries to divide, place a financial burden on Ukraine. Blinken spoke about a path forward with the Bucharest Nine and talks in Normandy format Germany and France.

The Bucharest Nine (B9) was established on Poland's and Romania's initiative. It comprises countries on NATO eastern border - Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania Slovakia and Hungary.

* Rumsfeld called the group New Europe

From my earlier diary ...

Blinken In Kyiv, Hotspot Ukraine

'Sapere aude'