Moscow [Russia], December 7 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden on Tuesday began their bilateral talks in a video conference format. According to Russian News Agency TASS, the leaders are expected to discuss the situation around Ukraine and NATO’s eastward expansion as well as issues of strategic stability and bilateral agenda. They may also touch upon some issues of regional security, including the situation in Afghanistan.
According to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the conversation may take some time. The conference will last for “as long as it takes,” the spokesman said, adding that conversations like this do not have precise timing.
The conversation takes place of a security video conference line, designed for communication of national leaders. This is the first time this system is being used. According to the Kremlin, this line was established during previous US administrations but was inactive until today.
Today’s conference is the fifth conversation between Putin and Biden since the latter’s assumption of the presidential office. (ANI)
Putin-Biden video summit brought no breakthroughs, but leaders showed commitment: Aide
The online summit of the Russian and US presidents, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, did not bring any breakthroughs, this is still difficult to expect, but the leaders showed a desire to work and engage in dialogue, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters. Putin and Biden held closed video talks that lasted two hours on Tuesday.
“There were no breakthroughs, you know, so far. Relations cause concern,” Ushakov told reporters.
“It is probably difficult to expect any serious breakthroughs yet. At the same time, the presidents showed a willingness to continue practical work, and in particular, start discussing very sensitive issues,” he said.
During their talks on Tuesday, Putin and Biden agreed to instruct their teams to promptly engage in contact on sensitive issues, which in particular include Ukraine and NATO’s expansion to the east, Ushakov said.
He said the conversation was quite frank, but at the same time, there was room for jokes. Ushakov said Putin told Biden Russia was worried by real threats, which relate to global security issues.
He said only two presidents talked to each other during the video summit. Ushakov said Biden vowed to discuss Russia‘s concerns with his supporters.
Biden warns Putin of strong measures if Russia escalates in Ukraine
Raising concerns over Russia‘s military build-up near the Ukraine border, US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of strong economic measures. Biden and Putin on Tuesday held their bilateral talks in a video conference format.
According to CNN, President Biden told his Russian counterpart that the US is prepared to launch strong economic measures that would cause a bigger punch than the sanctions issued in 2014 that failed to stop Russia from occupying Crimea. “I will look you in the eye and tell you, as President Biden looked Putin in the eye and told him today, that things we did not do in 2014 we are prepared to do now,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told media persons after Biden’s call with Putin on Tuesday.
Recent US intelligence findings estimate Russia could begin a military offensive in Ukraine in a matter of months as it amasses up to 175,000 troops along the border, CNN reported. Sullivan said the Biden administration still believes that Putin has not made a decision on whether to launch a military offensive against Ukraine.
Without going into specifics, Sullivan said that the US is coordinating with European allies “at a deep level of specificity,” CNN reported.
The national security advisor said, “Biden was direct and straightforward with President Putin. There was a lot of give and take. There was no finger-wagging, but the President was crystal clear about where the United States stands on all of these issues.”
Besides the economic ramifications mentioned on the call, Sullivan said President Biden conveyed that the US is prepared to bolster defence capabilities in the region.
“He reiterated America’s support for Ukraine‘s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He told President Putin directly that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States and our European allies would respond with strong economic measures,” said Sullivan.
He said that the US would provide additional defensive material to the Ukrainians above and beyond that, the US has already been providing and would fortify NATO allies on the eastern flank with additional capabilities in response to such an escalation.
Tuesday’s conference was the fifth conversation between Biden and Putin since the former’s assumption of the presidential office. (ANI)
US considering options for evacuating Americans from Ukraine if Russia invades
Washington [US], December 7 (ANI/Sputnik): The Biden administration is considering options for the evacuation of US citizens in case Russia invades Ukraine, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing sources. It is, however, not clear how many Americans are currently in Ukraine.
The report comes just before the Putin-Biden meeting scheduled for Tuesday. According to Washington, during the talks, the US president intends to express concern about Russia’s alleged military activity on the border with Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations of aggressive actions, saying that it does not threaten anyone and does not intend to attack anyone. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia is moving troops within its own territory and at its discretion.
In addition, the Kremlin stressed that all statements about Russia’s alleged aggression are being used as an excuse to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. (ANI/Sputnik)
Germany prepared to take action against Russia in case of Ukraine invasion
Washington [US], December 8 (ANI/Sputnik): Germany is prepared to take action against Russia if the latter invades Ukraine, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.
“I believe they are,” Nuland said in a congressional hearing when asked if Germany is prepared to take significant action against Russia if it invades Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, media reported the United States is pressing Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
