Lavrov makes it clear to Blinken that further disregard for Russia's legitimate concerns would have most serious consequences

MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during Friday's meeting in Geneva about possible serious consequences of further disregard for Russia's concerns, which are predominantly over the ongoing military expansion by the U.S. and NATO onto the territory of Ukraine.

"It was made clear to Blinken that any further disregard for the legitimate concerns of the Russian Federation, which are associated primarily with the continued military exploration of Ukraine by the United States and its NATO allies against the background of the largescale deployment of the alliance's forces and weapons near our borders, would have the most serious consequences," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Friday.

"It is possible to avoid this if Washington positively responds to our draft agreements on security guarantees. We expect to receive a written reaction to each paragraph from the U.S. side next week," it said.