The Russian convoy arrives at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022 for talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

The Russian convoy arrives at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022 for talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

The Russian convoy arrives at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022 for talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

A car with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on board arrives at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022 for talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

The Russian convoy arrives at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022 for talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

A US guard gives a thumb up to an official as Russian convoy arrives to the US permanent Mission during talks in Geneva on soaring tensions over Ukraine, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

A Russian convoy arrives to the US permanent Mission during talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

A Russian convoy arrives to the US permanent Mission during talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) and Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R) pose for pictures as they attend security talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE / POOL / AFP)

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (L) and Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov (R) pose for pictures as they attend security talks on soaring tensions over Ukraine, at the US permanent Mission, in Geneva, on January 10, 2022. - A top Russian official said he had a "difficult" conversation with his US counterpart on January 9, 2022 as preliminary talks on Ukraine got under way amid fears of a Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. "The conversation was difficult, it couldn't have been easy," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency after meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman during a working dinner in Geneva. (Photo by DENIS BALIBOUSE / POOL / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 07, 2022 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in the briefing room of the State Department in Washington, DC. - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 9, 2022 said Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation, ahead of talks in Geneva on soaring tensions over Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 07, 2022 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks in the briefing room of the State Department in Washington, DC. - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 9, 2022 said Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation, ahead of talks in Geneva on soaring tensions over Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 21, 2021 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters during a press briefing at the US Department of State in Washington, DC. - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on January 9, 2022 said Russia had to choose between dialogue and confrontation, ahead of talks in Geneva on soaring tensions over Ukraine. (Photo by EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL / AFP)