Russia sends written follow-up to U.S. amid Ukraine negotiations – "formal' response still to come
The U.S. State Department on Monday said it had received a written follow-up from Russia regarding negotiations over Ukraine, but clarified on Tuesday that a "formal" response to the written proposal given to Moscow last week by the United States would be coming after review by Russian President Vladamir Putin.
State Department officials did not give a timeline for delivery of that response, which would then lead to further discussions on next steps to resolve the standoff over Ukraine.
"They're still working on their formal response, which they will be sending to us," a State Department official said Tuesday. "Once we have received that — the response will have to go to President Putin — then they will send it to us....and then we can have a serious discussion on the next steps."
Russia has massed 100,000 troops around Ukraine's borders and the U.S. and its NATO allies have warned for weeks that it could use the forces to launch an invasion. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has maintained that Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine.
The United Nations Security Council met Monday, with U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying the hope is that Russia continues "along the route of diplomacy and find a solution - a way forward so that Ukraine can feel comfortable and secure in its own borders."
On Tuesday, Russia's U.N. Ambassador played down the response to CBS News' Pamela Falk. "There is no response on the American response. It is being now coordinated between relevant Ministries. It will come, of course."
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include comments from U.S. State Department officials and a statement from Russia's U.N. Ambassador.