Topline
U.S. President Joe Biden has agreed to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “in principle,” the White House confirmed on Monday night, in a French government-brokered move that comes amid ratcheting tensions in eastern Ukraine and fears of a possible invasion of the country by Russian forces.
US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a US-Russia summit at Villa … [+]
Key Facts
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office first announced the meeting, noting that he had asked the two leaders to undertake a summit on “security and strategic stability in Europe.”
The White House confirmed that Biden had accepted this meeting “in principle” as long as Russia does not invade Ukraine.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. was always ready for diplomacy but is also prepared to impose “swift and severe consequences” if Russia chooses to go ahead with the invasion.
The Élysée Palace’s statement noted that the substance of the summit would be worked out by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their upcoming meeting on Thursday.
The summit will be followed by a subsequent gathering of “relevant stakeholders” to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe, the statement added.
Crucial Quote
“As the President has repeatedly made clear, we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins… We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon,” Psaki said in the White House’s official statement.
This is a developing story
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/02/21/biden-has-agreed-in-principle-to-meeting-with-putin-over-ukraine-crisis/