We have to prepare for escalation in Russia tensions, says U.S. envoy to OSCE

The U.S. envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said after talks with Russia in Vienna on Thursday that the West must prepare for the eventuality that there could be an escalation in tensions with Moscow.

Michael Carpenter, the U.S. permanent representative to the 57-nation grouping, told reporters on a conference call that the United States would not entertain spheres of influence or restrictions on rights of nations to choose their own alliances, a reference to Russia's demands that the NATO alliance stop its eastward expansion.