WASHINGTON, The United States looks at unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday.

“So I think we’ve been very, very clear that we are going to look at sanctions and economic consequences, the likes of which we have not looked at before, or even considered even as far back as 2014. We don’t want to lose that deterrent effect,” Kirby told FOX News Channel.

“The other thing that we said though is it doesn’t have to come to conflict. We still believe there’s room and space for diplomacy, and we’d like to see that be the solution here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the US, told ABC News that “Russia cannot block the Security Council from holding a meeting. They will certainly attempt to”. “They will distract from our unified voices. But they know that they cannot block the meeting. And I expect that, knowing what we’re dealing with, that they will make an attempt. But the Security Council is unified. Our voices are unified in calling for the Russians to explain themselves”.

“We’re going to go in the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda. And we’re going to be prepared to respond to any disinformation that they attempt to spread during this meeting,” she said.

“Part of the reason we’re calling for this meeting on Monday is one more opportunity to find the diplomatic way out for the Russians.

On what a settlement with Russia could look like, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said at first it would mean Russia making the decision to de-escalate, to pull their troops back, and to come to the diplomatic table and talk with the United States, with the Ukrainians, with NATO allies about their security concerns.

“We have made clear that we’re prepared to address our concerns, Ukrainian concerns, and Russian concerns at the diplomatic table. But it cannot be done on the battlefield,” she said.

Source: Kuwait News Agency