The White House has revealed that US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed “in principle” to meet about Ukraine, as long as Russia refrains from what US officials believe is an imminent assault on the country.
Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have agreed on the premise of a summit requested by Emmanuel Macron to address security and strategic capability in Europe, following telephonic discussions between the French President and his Russian and US counterparts.
“We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. We are also prepared to impose rapid and severe consequences if Russia chooses to go to war instead. And, at the moment, Russia appears to be preparing for a full-scale attack on Ukraine very soon.” The news was made initially by the office of French President Emmanuel Macron, who helped broker the future discussions between the two leaders. According to the Elysee Palace, Macron had proposed a meeting between the two leaders to discuss “security and strategic peace in Europe.”
“Presidents Biden and Putin have both embraced the premise of such a summit,” the statement read, before adding that such a meeting would be unthinkable if Russia invaded Ukraine, as the West fears it will.
