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The United States says President Joe Biden is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at any time, in any format, to prevent war in Ukraine. Photo/ REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov
This was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antony Blinken while appearing at the event “State of the Union” CNN on Sunday Washington time.
“The United States will use every opportunity and every minute we have to promote diplomacy until the tanks actually launch and the planes fly,” he said.
“President Biden is ready to engage President Putin at any time, in any format, if it can help prevent war,” he said. New York PostMonday (21/2/2022).
Also read: US intelligence says Putin ordered Russia to attack Ukraine
“I contacted my Russian partner, the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Sergey] Lavrov, to insist that we meet next week in Europe.”
“The plan is still to do that unless the Russians attack in the meantime.”
On Sunday, Putin agreed to three-way talks on Monday between Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
The deal came during a 105-minute phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the two leaders clashed over who was to blame for rising tensions in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin said Putin was pointing to provocations by Ukrainian security forces.
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