Putin tells Baiden that US-Russia relations could collapse due to sanctions imposed on Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned President Joe Biden on a phone call on Thursday that relations between the two countries could collapse if the United States imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after a call that Putin had told Biden that sanctions “could lead to a complete breakdown in relations between the two countries.” Reuters reported.

“Our president also said it would be a mistake for our grandchildren to see it as a huge mistake,” he said.

White House spokeswoman Jena Psaki said Biden told Putin on Thursday that Russia needed to “de-escalate tensions with Ukraine.” She said Biden had warned that the United States would retaliate if Russia continued to invade Ukraine.

“President Biden has reiterated that significant progress in these dialogues can only take place in a peaceful environment,” she said.

He made it clear that the United States and its allies and partners would react decisively if Russia invaded Ukraine further.

According to Axios, a senior US official said Biden also said the US and its allies could combine sanctions with increased NATO activity in eastern member states.

NATO operations in countries such as Estonia and Latvia bordering Russia have long frustrated Putin. it’s recently NATO demanded that Eastern Europe leave completely.

The United States, Ukraine and their allies warn that Russia appears to be about to invade its neighbor Ukraine.

Russia is accumulating troops and military equipment on the border.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia also supports armed separatists in the eastern Donbass region of Ukraine.

The war between Russian-backed insurgents and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 13,000 people In the last years.