U.S. President Biden proposes summit meeting during call with Putin
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, April 13.
According to the White House readout, Biden expressed concerns “over the sudden Russian military build-up in occupied Crimea and on Ukraine’s borders,” and called on Putin to de-escalate tensions. Biden also underscored Washington's “unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Backstory
- ‘We deeply doubt it will help’ Kremlin warns that Ukraine joining NATO would exacerbate Donbas conflict
- Intimidation tactics Open data analysis points to highest concentration of Russian troops near Ukraine’s borders since 2015
- ‘The Kremlin’s calculations have changed’ Russia is building up troops near the border with Ukraine. We asked experts if full-scale war is inevitable.
- ‘More offensive than defensive’ Open source analysts trace Russian troops to an army camp in the Voronezh region — on the border with government-controlled Ukrainian territory
In addition, Biden proposed that in the coming month, he and Putin hold a summit meeting in a third country “to discuss the full range of issues facing the United States and Russia.”
“President Biden also made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to Russia’s actions, such as cyber intrusions and election interference,” the readout says.
In an interview in March, President Biden answered in the affirmative when asked if he considers Putin a “killer.” A day later, Putin responded with a schoolyard retort that loosely translates as: “Look who’s talking!”