Biden has emphasized support for Ukraine in talks with Putin

Biden and Putin communicated via video call; their conversation lasted a little over two hours.

Biden calls for a reduction in tensions, a return to diplomacy

This was the fifth conversation between Biden and Putin since Biden took office as president at the beginning of the year. The leaders had spoken on the phone three times, but in a Swiss city in June The two met in person in Geneva.

Biden voiced concerns among US and European allies about the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. He made it clear that in the event of a military escalation of the conflict, the United States and the Allies would be prepared to respond with economic sanctions and other means.

“President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for a reduction in tensions and a return to diplomacy,” the White House said in a statement.

JUST IN: White House releases readout of Pres. Biden’s call with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. https://t.co/BJrYoLTbwx pic.twitter.com/SNRbD6kCiA

— ABC News (@ABC) December 7, 2021

The two presidents have instructed their teams to continue working to resolve the dispute.

Putin’s “red line”

Russia has drawn nearly 100,000 troops in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine’s border, raising fears that Russian forces could launch an offensive against Ukraine early next year.

The Kremlin rejects plans to invade, blames the West for raising hysteria, and accuses Kiev of aggressive intentions towards pro-Kremlin separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Putin is demanding that NATO stop trying to expand eastward and deploy weapons near Russia.

Putin has warned the West not to break the “red line” by joining Ukraine in NATO. Russia also wants assurances that Ukraine will not try to reclaim the territories seized in 2014 by Russian-backed separatists.

The West is reluctant to make such promises and emphasizes that the accession of both Ukraine and Georgia to NATO will be a matter for those countries and NATO members to decide, not Russia.

Russia could be disconnected from the SWIFT payment system

The European Union and the United States are warning Russia that aggression against Ukraine will mean new, even tougher sanctions on Russian companies and Putin’s comrades.

.@POTUS held a secure video call with President Putin of Russia today to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including our concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber, and regional issues. pic.twitter.com/VKdjJhwnhe

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 7, 2021

Before talks with Kremlin owner Putin, US President Biden has already approached leaders in France, Germany, Italy and Britain to address their concerns and coordinate a common position. This was followed by a statement that the West is determined that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be protected.

The White House said leaders in the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Italy had set up a joint strategy “to cause significant and severe damage to Russia’s economy” should Russia launch an invasion.

It is believed that Western countries could impose restrictions on Russian banks to convert rubles into foreign currencies. There has also been a proposal to disconnect Russia from the global financial payment system SWIFT.

Zelensky: Ukraine is ready to repel a possible attack

After talks with Putin, Biden has again contacted European leaders to discuss the way forward.

European Commission President Urzula von der Leiena stressed on Tuesday that the EU continues to fully support Ukraine against the threat of Russian aggression.

The EU continues to fully support Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression.

We will respond to any further aggressions, by scaling-up and expanding existing sanctions.

We are ready to take additional restrictive measures, in coordination with our partners. pic.twitter.com/Wh7lMlgKUz

– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 7, 2021

“We will respond to any further aggression by extending existing sanctions,” the EC president warned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukrainian soldiers near the conflict zone in the east of the country on Monday. Zelensky said the Ukrainian army was able to repel a possible attack by Moscow.

“Freedom is our highest value and I am convinced that it has no limits. It is a symbol of the entire Ukrainian state, and it was protected from Russian aggression in 2014, and our soldiers continue to protect it throughout the country to this day. ”

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