The next is a transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken that aired Sunday, February 20, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was additionally in Munich and is right here in Washington this morning. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY ANTONY BLINKEN: Good morning, MARGARET.
MARGARET BRENNAN: President Biden says Vladimir Putin has made up his thoughts to invade, however we spoke with Russia's ambassador earlier this morning, and he insists there is not any invasion, no plan to invade, and it solely has troops by itself soil. Do you've purpose to imagine Vladimir Putin is altering his thoughts?
SEC. BLINKEN: No, we do not. And, you already know, I used to be in entrance of the U.N. Safety Council simply a few days in the past, and I made a quite simple ask of the Russians: inform the world, with out equivocation, with out deflection, that you'll not invade Ukraine. Not we do not have a plan to invade Ukraine, not we do not have an intention to invade Ukraine, however we is not going to invade Ukraine. And the Russian consultant both could not or would not say that, and I think the ambassador did not say that both. In order President Biden mentioned the opposite night time, every little thing we're seeing tells us that the choice we imagine President Putin has made to- to invade is shifting ahead. We have seen that with provocations created by the Russians or separatist forces over the weekend, false flag operations. Now the information simply this morning that the quote unquote workouts Russia was engaged in in Belarus with 30,000 Russian forces that have been supposed to finish this weekend, will now proceed due to tensions in jap Ukraine. Tensions created by Russia and the separatist forces it backs there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We perceive President Biden is looking a gathering of his Nationwide Safety Council in the present day. What choices will likely be made at that assembly?
SEC. BLINKEN: Nicely, it is a chance to overview the- the most recent info, the most recent intelligence to- to verify indicators to verify plans. I simply got here again from Munich with the vp. She led our delegation there to guarantee that we're in lockstep with allies and companions on every little thing that we'll do, each to see if we are able to nonetheless forestall President Putin from carrying forth his choice and if not ensuring that we're absolutely coordinated with allies and companions on the response. And the reply is we're. We had a gathering of the G7 international locations once more in Munich, the main democracies on the earth. They've reiterated that huge penalties will observe if- if President Putin carries forth with the- the aggression. And in the meantime, we've been in the- within the authorities very tightly and intently coordinated over over many months and doing the identical factor with allies and companions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, you already know, after we final spoke on January twenty third, you informed me that if Russia engages in different tappet techniques in need of invasion, hybrid motion, cyber assaults, efforts to convey a authorities down, there will likely be a swift calibrated and united response. Aren't they doing all of these issues proper now? And the place is the U.S. response?
SEC. BLINKEN: Initially, we have taken vital motion over the- in latest months supplying Ukraine with extra defensive- deadly defensive help–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, these cyber assaults have been simply attributed by the White Home on Friday. These simply occurred.
SEC. BLINKEN: And we have labored intently with- with Ukraine to- to ward them off to get again up and operating. We have now made an attribution to- to Russia for the cyber assaults. We're wanting intently on the response that that- that that will name for and we're doing all of this in coordination with allies and companions. So we have been very clear that each by way of the steps that we have already- already taken by way of supporting Ukraine and its protection, by way of bolstering its financial system, by way of already shifting forces to strengthen NATO on its jap flank, as- in addition to making preparations to- to do extra of that. If Russia commits the- the aggression that- which may be in prepare, all of that has been a part of our- our plan and we're carrying it ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You mentioned that you'll meet with Russia's prime diplomat, however provided that Russia doesn't invade.
SEC. BLINKEN: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nevertheless it appears contradictory as a result of what you might be saying is that is tanks, and that is planes. However does that imply Russia has carte blanche to proceed cyber assaults, to proceed funding separatists within the east. In the event that they maintain tensions at this low boil, is that acceptable to you? Will you continue to sit down and negotiate?
SEC. BLINKEN: It is- it is not- nicely two issues. There are two separate issues there. Initially, it is not acceptable, and it is one of many issues that we have talked about in some element with allies and companions this weekend. That may be a state of affairs by which Russia simply retains issues at a low or medium boil. And there will likely be a response to that, too. However by way of partaking Russia, my job as a diplomat is to go away completely no stone unturned to see if we are able to forestall a conflict. And if there's something that I can do to try this, I will do it. President Biden has made very clear that he is ready to- to satisfy President Putin at any time, in any format, if that may assist forestall a conflict. And as lengthy as- even when the die is forged, till it is settled, till we all know that the- the tanks are rolling, the planes are flying and the aggression has- has absolutely begun, we'll do every little thing we are able to to stop it. However we're ready both method and we're ready with a response that can have huge penalties for Russia if it really carries this by means of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You might have constantly described sanctions as a deterrent, however I do know you heard President Zelensky actually mild into the Western allies in that speech in Munich, and he accused you and the West of appeasement of Vladimir Putin over the previous few years. He mentioned we do not want extra sanctions after the bombardment or after we've no borders or after we've no financial system or after elements of our nation will likely be occupied. What are you ready for? What are you ready for?
SEC. BLINKEN: I am unable to converse, MARGARET, to the previous few years. I can converse to the previous few months into the final yr. And in that time period, the US, once more, has offered to Ukraine extra help, together with deadly army help, defensive help, extra prior to now yr than at any time in any earlier yr.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will that proceed after an invasion occurs?
SEC. BLINKEN: Let me end if I could, please. Thanks. We have now rallied different international locations to face in help of Ukraine as nicely to offer their very own help. We have rallied different international locations to clarify and to place collectively in nice element the huge penalties that can befall Russia if it engages on this aggression. The aim of that's to do every little thing we are able to to discourage it, to stop a conflict, to discourage the aggression. And when you set off the sanctions, you lose the deterrent impact. And so long as there may be nonetheless even a minute's price of time during which we are able to deter and stop a conflict, we'll attempt to use it. And a part of that's making clear, because the G7 did this weekend, that these penalties are going to observe. And we do not need to pull the set off till we've to as a result of we lose the deterrent impact. On the similar time, we additionally do not need to element in public precisely what we'll do as a result of that can forewarn Russia. It will likely be in a position to put together extra successfully to attempt to mitigate the sanctions. So all of this is- could be very nicely thought by means of. And look, I acknowledge President Zelenskyy is in a really tough place because the chief of a rustic that's underneath siege by Russia. We're doing every little thing we are able to to each assist Ukraine defend itself and to clarify what's going to occur to Russia if it undertakes this aggression.
MARGARET BRENNAN: After I spoke with the Russian Ambassador, he referred to Crimea, that a part of southern Ukraine that was annexed by Russia in 2014, as a part of the Russian Federation. Will the U.S. in any method take into account recognizing that- ceding that territory or any territories within the east of Ukraine as a diplomatic method out to keep away from a bigger conflict?
SEC. BLINKEN: No.
MARGARET BRENNAN: No. Laborious cease. That's not up for negotiation?
SEC. BLINKEN: That is right.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president has mentioned that the US will proceed to help Ukraine sooner or later after an invasion. If there may be an occupation, does that imply the US is dedicated to funding and arming an insurgency?
SEC. BLINKEN: President mentioned that we'll, within the occasion of an invasion, double down on our help for Ukraine. And meaning by way of safety help, financial help, diplomatic help, political help, humanitarian help, you identify it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Blinken, good luck this week. Thanks on your time this morning.
SEC. BLINKEN: Thanks, MARGARET. Good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: FACE THE NATION, will likely be again in a single minute. Stick with us.