Julianne Smith, American envoy to NATO (Photo: CNN)

Julianne Smith, American envoy to NATO, told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of a NATO-Russia meeting, that if Russia pursues confrontation, there will be serious consequences.

Smith said the US and its NATO allies are committed to dialogue but are resolved to impose consequences on Russia should it launch further aggression inside Ukraine. These include sanctions on Russian financial institutions, export controls that target key industries, and increased security assistance to Ukraine.