US warns Russia as Kremlin talks about war threat in Ukraine

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin has voiced concern about a possible escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine’s separatist conflict as the U.S. issued a strong warning to Russia to stay away from Ukraine. Ukrainian and Western officials have worried about a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine could herald an invasion. But Moscow has insisted it has no such intention and accused Ukraine and its Western backers of making up the claims to cover up their own allegedly aggressive designs. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting in Stockholm on Thursday that “if Russia decides to pursue confrontation, there will be serious consequences.”