BBC News
December 31, 2021
The presidents of the United States and Russia held a 50-minute meeting on Thursday
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned his US counterpart Joe Biden that new sanctions on Ukraine could hurt relations between the two countries.
In a phone call with Biden on Thursday night, Putin said the new sanctions on Russia would be "a big mistake."
Biden, on the other hand, has assured Putin that the United States and its allies will respond immediately if it intervenes in Ukraine.
The call, made at Russia's request, is the second of its kind between the two leaders this month. The call lasted about an hour.
It is an attempt to reduce tensions on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, 100,000 Russian troops have been deployed there.
Western countries are concerned about this situation. US President Biden had threatened Putin with sanctions in the event of an invasion of Ukraine "unprecedented."However,Russia has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating "Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia's intelligence have been made more than once. Russia says its troops are conducting exercises there. Russia says it can deploy troops anywhere on its territory.
What was the conversation between Putin and Biden?
Although the two sides warned each other during the call, Russia's foreign policy adviser told reporters that Putin was "happy" with the talks. He says it provides a "good background" for future talks.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the tone of the conversation was "tough and meaningful."According to the White House press secretary, "President Biden has said that progress in these negotiations is possible only in the context of a reduction in tensions."
He added that Biden had made it clear that "if Russia intervenes further in Ukraine, the United States and its allies will respond immediately."
Talks between US and Russian officials are expected in Geneva next month. According to the White House, Biden has asked his Russian counterpart to find a diplomatic solution.
In a message on holiday before Thursday's call, Putin told Biden that he was "satisfied" that the two would be able to work together "with mutual respect and in the national interest of each other."
A spokesman for Putin in Moscow said he "wanted talks."
We believe that only through negotiations can an immediate solution be found to the problems that are so prevalent among us."
Extreme concern in Washington
Tara McLean, White House correspondent
When White House officials talk about Ukraine, they seem satisfied. At least when they're out of the West Wing.
A senior US administration official said Thursday's talks between President Biden and Putin were "serious and meaningful."He spoke in support of the US Alliance, but said that maintaining some independence was not the answer. But behind the scenes, he and others in the White House are concerned about possible intervention in Ukraine.
A source told me that Russia had given a "clear" signal. That is why diplomatic efforts have been stepped up.
White House officials are calling Thursday's talks a positive step. But only for now. They are trying to keep the talks going until next year.
Ukraine's defense minister has told parliament that Russia deployed thousands of troops near the border in early December to prepare for a large-scale military operation in late January.
Russia says the deployment of troops on the border is a precautionary measure against the Western alliance NATO. Russia wants assurances from NATO that it will not expand further into the east and that certain weapons will not be sent to Ukraine and its neighbors.
The United States has rejected what it calls "an attempt by the Kremlin to control the future of independent nations."
Ukraine has not yet been offered NATO membership but has close ties with the Western alliance.
Border tensions between Russia and Ukraine are not new.In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine. Earlier, it backed a separatist armed uprising in eastern Ukraine that killed at least 14,000 people in intermittent clashes.
Washington and its European allies have warned Russia that it could face tough economic sanctions if its troops intervene in Ukraine again.
