Blinken: avoiding direct conflict with Russia serves U.S. national interest

Avoiding a direct military confrontation with Russia serves the U.S. national interest, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said.

"The [U.S.] President has to make sure that he is looking out for the interests of the American people. One of those interests is making sure to the best of our ability that we don’t get into direct conflict with Russia, that we avoid doing things that could lead to a wider conflict," he said.

Blinken added that the U.S. wants to end the Russian aggression [in Ukraine], not broaden it out in ways that would be good for no one.