Russia-Ukraine crisis: Putin-Biden agree to meet after negotiations brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron
US President Joe Biden has ‘in-principle’ agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine along the eastern Ukrainian border. In a statement, US Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the White House is always open for diplomacy and Biden has accepted ‘in principle’ a meeting with Putin if the Russian invasion of Ukraine has not happened.
“As the President has repeatedly made clear, we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov are scheduled to meet later this week in Europe, provided Russia does not proceed with military action. President Biden accepted in principle, a meeting with President Putin following that engagement, again, if an invasion hasn’t happened. We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences, should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
Fast-paced developments took place across European capitals as tensions soared over a likely Russian invasion of Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, over the weekend and the two leaders reportedly pledged to avoid escalations along the Russia-Ukraine border. The duo discussed the Russia-Ukraine developments for over four hours on a phone call.
According to reports, Macron proposed a summit between Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden to de-escalate the tensions along eastern Ukraine.
“The substance will have to be prepared by (US) Secretary Blinken and (Russian Foreign) Minister Lavrov during their meeting on Thursday 24 February,” Élysée said in an official statement after Macron-Putin talks.
US refuses to impose sanctions on Russia
In Washington, where fast-paced developments have been taking place in light of the Russia-Ukraine tensions, US President Joe Biden canceled his Delaware trip to hold a high-level meet in Washington DC. The US, on Sunday, refused to impose sanctions on Russia, even as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted that diplomatic options were still open to avert a Russia-Ukraine war and Biden was willing to meet Putin to deescalate the tensions.Meanwhile, satellite images showed fresh Russian build-up along the Ukraine border where armoured vehicles and a massive Russian garrison were seen. “This new activity represents a change in the pattern of the previously observed deployments of battle groups (tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and support equipment),” US-based Maxar Technologies said, news agency Reuters reported.
