NATO foreign ministers have held an emergency meeting to discuss tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border. The meeting comes ahead of talks between NATO representatives and Russian officials next week.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Moscow has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the border. He said NATO regrets that, despite the calls of the international community over many weeks, Russia has not taken steps to deescalate. He added that such aggression seriously undermines the security order in Europe.

Stoltenberg said leaders in Moscow have the opportunity to show they are serious about dialogue and diplomacy. He said NATO and its allies have sent a clear message that the use of force against a neighbor will result in severe consequences. Those include economic and political sanctions.

US and Russian officials will hold their own talks in Geneva ahead of the meeting with NATO.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Washington is prepared to respond forcefully to further Russian aggression. But he added that a diplomatic solution is still possible and preferable if Russia chooses it.

Blinken said he has spoken with Ukraine's foreign minister. He said he reaffirmed Washington's "unwavering support" for Ukrainian independence.