Thread by @althecat

I hope that @JosepBorrellF had @EmmanuelMacron and @OlafScholz fully on board with this. For his sake.

https://twitter.com/josepborrellf/status/1486458809665171464

@SecBlinken’s press conference about this is here. Video and transcript. state.gov/secretary-anto…

This looks kind of rushed. The press conference was five hours ago, less than 24 hours after the joint Macron/Scholz presser last night. It was announced by @StateDept but not @StateDeptSpox or @SecBlinken and streamed live on Twitter.

The text has not been released.

Other than the tweet from @JosepBorrellF this is the only tweet I can find on the subject, released an hour ago by the French President’s office. I can find none acknowledging it’s receipt from @mfa_russia.

https://twitter.com/Elysee/status/1486456020549488645

There is this one from @NATO 3 hours ago, but it’s not clear whether this is the same document referred to by @secblinken who I think said NATO was sending a document of its own.

When things are rushed they can be unclear.

https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1486422640847904771

@SecBlinken’s delivery of the statement was also somewhat hesitant. The document submitted to the Russians sounds like it is rather long and has been in preparation for a long time based on what he said.

And apparently @POTUS @joebiden has been involved in its drafting too.

@SecBlinken’s prepared remarks among other things defend the decision to withdraw embassy staff at some length so it seems that is a touchy subject.

The briefing was not very long and not many questions were taken, and well worth listening to in full.

There is as no regular @StateDept briefing from @StateDeptSpox Ned Price today after marathon efforts on Monday and Tuesday, mostly on this subject.

Blinken also talks at length in his briefing about preparations underway to ensure energy supply security in the event conflict or sanctions do arise, which no doubt will get a lot of media attention.

An interesting and unusual day with this very rapidly evolving story.

/ends

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