US reacts to PM Imran Khan's Russia visit amid Ukraine conflict

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price responded to a question related to Prime Minister Imran Khan's Russia visit, stating that "we believe it’s the responsibility of every responsible country around the world to voice concern and to voice objection to what Putin appears to have in mind for Ukraine."

Price said this during a press briefing on Wednesday when asked about the Pakistani premier's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

He said that they have already apprised Islamabad of Washington's position on Russia’s further escalation in Ukraine and "we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war."

Price said that the US views the partnership with a prosperous, democratic Pakistan as critical to its interests.

"We certainly hope, when it comes to those shared interests – the aversion of a costly conflict, the aversion of a destabilizing conflict, that every country around the world would make that point clearly in unambiguous language in their engagements with the Russian Federation," he added.

The visit of PM Imran has assumed international significance as Russia announced to launch operation in Ukraine's Donbas region. He would be the only world leader to meet Putin face-to-face amid the unfolding crisis in Ukraine.