US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington delivered written replies on Wednesday to Russian security demands, a key step in a fragile diplomatic process.

Binken said the document, handed over in person by US ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan, addressed Russia’s concerns and raised those of the United States and its allies.

He told reporters the response sets out a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it, and has a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns Moscow has raised. He added that the United States was open to dialogue.

“The document we’ve delivered includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russia’s actions that undermine security, a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground,” Blinken said.

“Putting things in writing is … a good way to make sure we’re as precise as possible, and the Russians understand our positions, our ideas, as clearly as possible. Right now, the document is with them and the ball is in their court,” he said.

“There is no change. There will be no change,” Blinken said of US and NATO support of the alliance’s open-door policy.

“We make clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend, including Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances,” he added.

The ball is now in Russia’s court, Blinken said Wednesday.

“I think there are important things to work with if Russia is serious about working. And that is up to President Putin. We’ll see how they respond,” he said.

Source: Reuters and CNN