INTERNATIONAL: Germany is ready to defend fundamental values in the conflict with Russia over Ukraine, even if this means paying a high economic price, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said after talks with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Tuesday, January 18.

"We have no other option, even if this means paying a high economic price," Baerbock told a joint news conference with Sergei Lavrov after the meeting, adding Berlin is ready for serious dialogue with Russia in order to improve the security situation for all in Europe.

"Germany has reiterated that, in case energy is being used as a weapon, that this would have consequences on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline", she has noted.

Baerbock has said that the amassing of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border "for no understandable reason" is worrying and is "hard not to see this as a threat" and encourange all participants to return to the Normandy format.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Baerbock in Berlin after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Wednesday,January 19, accroding to the U.S. State Department.

Blinken will "discuss recent diplomatic engagements with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including Allies' and partners' readiness to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia," a statement has said.