Biden will seek to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine with diplomacy but prepares for the advance of Russian forces

President Joe Biden will offer Vladimir Putin a “diplomatic path” out of tensions over Ukraine, but he remains “seriously concerned” about Russian troop movements, A senior US administration official said on Wednesday.

In a phone call with Putin scheduled for ThursdayThe official told reporters that Biden would say they are “ready for diplomacy and for the diplomatic path forward.”

“But we are also ready to respond if Russia makes a new invasion of Ukraine,” The official said Biden will inform Putin, adding that ‘We are still very concerned’ by Russian forces near the border with Ukraine.

On his part, the US Secretary of State said, Anthony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to whom he reiterated the United States’ “unwavering support” for Ukraine. In light of the increase in the Russian military presence on the border between the two countries.

The US State Department said in a statement to this call, which occurs A day before the appointment to be maintained by US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will focus on the Ukraine crisis.

According to the statement, Blinkin expressed to Zelensky US support for the “independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” in light of the increased Russian presence on the border.

The two sides discussed efforts to “peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine” as well as “diplomatic obligations” to be reached with Russia.

The call comes around the time it was just announced that the White House will take action on the phone call that Biden and Putin will have tomorrow.

Previously, flash have confirmed That your country is ready to take the measures that it has refrained from taking in the past against Russia If that country invaded Ukraine.

“We are studying and are ready to take such measures that we have refrained from taking in the past,” he added.Blinken said in an interview with the show Meet the pressfrom the series NBC.

Communication between the two leaders

Biden and Putin will speak by phone on Thursday “to discuss various issues, including upcoming diplomatic relations with Russia.” A White House spokeswoman announced on Wednesday.

The phone call will take place between the two heads of state Two weeks before the negotiations between the two countries scheduled for January 10On the nuclear arms control treaties and the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border, where the West accuses Moscow of concentrating its forces for a possible attack.

The National Security Council spokeswoman said the Biden government continues to carry out “intense diplomacy with our European allies and partners, in consultation and coordinated a joint approach in response to Russia’s military entrenchment on the border with Ukraine.” Emily Horn, it’s a statement.

“In fact, a telephone interview between Putin and the President of the United States is scheduled for late tomorrow night (Moscow time),” a Kremlin spokesman confirmed. Dmitriy Peskov, citing Russian agencies.

This will be the second phone conversation between the two leaders in less than a month. At the beginning of December, Joe Biden has threatened Vladimir Putin with sanctions “the likes of which he has never seen” if he attacks Ukraine.

Russia claims to be acting in response to what it sees as hostility from the West and recently submitted two draft treaties to prevent NATO expansion and end the military activities of Western powers near Russia’s borders. Above all, he wants to prevent Ukraine from becoming a member of NATO.

January 10 negotiations tense. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out any “concessions” from the start and the United States had already warned that some of Russia’s requests were “unacceptable”.

(with information from the EFE and AFP)

Read on: