Kremlin ready for more talks with West amid Ukraine tensions

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin is signaling it is ready to keep talking with the West about security grievances that led to the current Ukraine crisis, offering hope that Russia might not invade its beleaguered neighbor within days as the U.S. and Europe increasingly fear.

Questions remain about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, however.

On a last-ditch diplomatic trip, Germany’s chancellor said there are “no sensible reasons” for the buildup of more than 130,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders, and he urged more dialogue.

Britain’s prime minister said Europe is “on the edge of a precipice” — but added, “there is still time for President Putin to step back.”

Meanwhile, some airlines have canceled flights to the capital of Ukraine and troops there have unloaded fresh shipments of weapons from NATO members. Ukraine’s president on Sunday sought to project confidence in the face of U.S. warnings of possible invasion within days by a growing number of Russian forces.

Aides to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Joe Biden say the two leaders spoke for about an hour on Sunday.

Zelenskyy insisted that Ukrainians have the country under “safe and reliable protection” against feared attack by a far stronger Russian military.

The White House said both agreed to keep pushing deterrence and diplomacy to try to stave off a Russian offensive.