As of Monday, Russia has said that it will continue diplomatic talks with the West to try to diffuse the ongoing security crisis in Ukraine. Despite a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend that reportedly ended without a breakthrough, Al Jazeera has said that Russia’s Foreign Minister believes there to be an opening for progress on Russia’s goals. Likewise, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. would push forward with diplomatic action. Meanwhile, Russia has continued its military build up on Ukraine’s borders, now amassing around 100,000 troops. Yet, Russia continues to deny a plan to invade despite speculations, as tensions continue to bubble despite negotiations.

In response to Russia’s willingness to reach an agreement, Stephen Nix from the International Republican Institute was quoted as saying, “It remains to be seen whether these are real negotiations or designed to merely delay the invasion that [Putin] has said he might undertake while he continues to slice away at the West’s position.” The rest of the international community has made it quite clear where they stand: in defense of Ukraine and its territorial integrity. Boris Johnson and the British government agreed with Biden that “there remained a crucial window for diplomacy and for Russia to step back from its threats toward Ukraine.” Additionally, a UN spokesman in conversation with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, stated that “[Kuleba] welcomed the ongoing diplomatic discussions to defuse those tensions and underlined, yet again, the fact that there is no alternative to diplomacy.”

The clear pattern here, considering international voices and opinions, is that diplomacy is the only way forward considering the security crisis. However, despite Russia’s seeming willingness to continue this trend, the actions of Putin and his military don’t align with a path to diplomacy. Considering Russia’s military presence that is showing no sign of stopping, the U.S. and Western powers must keep on with deterrence efforts and remain vigilant with a possibility of invasion. This is not to dismiss the importance of Russia’s continued diplomatic efforts, but instead to promote a cautious optimism moving forward so long as Russia remains in good faith with their statements on Monday.

The main security crisis at hand dates back to November of last year, when satellite imagery showed a buildup of Russian troops on the border of Ukraine. Russia followed this with a list of demands, its primary concern being that Ukraine should never accept an alliance with NATO. Since then, diplomatic talks have commenced with no apparent success in appealing to either side, as the U.S. stands firm in its refusal to meet Moscow’s security demands. Western interests remain with the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine, and ultimately its protection against what has been continually perceived as an impending Russian invasion. Until Monday’s announcement, talks between the respective governments had reportedly made no progress. 

U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier this month that the West was committed to diplomacy to bring this crisis to an end, but “equally prepared for other scenarios.” Despite skepticism of Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, it is important for the U.S. and accompanying Western powers to continue pushing a rhetoric that a peaceful solution is the only way forward. Ongoing tensions will not be diffused overnight, however it is now critical that Russia backs up their words with real action and removes the threat of their military from the border of Ukraine.