An initial meeting between senior Russian and U.S. officials ended with uncertainty from the United States about whether the talks mark the beginning of de-escalation or represent a pretense for intensified war with Ukraine.

“The Russians would tell you that they were an open bid for serious negotiation, and we will see if that is indeed the case,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters Monday.

Recommended Stories

Blinken warns of possible Russian false flag attack against Ukraine

State Department: Biden ‘not weighing cuts’ to military presence in Europe

On NATO expansion, Russia goes for the jugular