President Joe Biden warned his Kremlin counterpart Vladimir Putin that the United States “will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia” if it invades Ukraine.
In a telephone conversation, Biden stressed that “while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with its allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios,” says a White House note.
Biden “made clear that if Russia undertakes an invasion, the United States, along with our and partners, will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia,” it adds.
The United States fears an imminent invasion of Ukraine despite the continuing diplomatic offensive
The White House also said that Biden had “reiterated” to Putin that attacking Ukraine would “produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s position.”
The presidents spoke for just over an hour and there appeared to be no progress in defusing tension between the West and Russia over the deployment of forces surrounding neighboring Ukraine by air, sea and land.
The call “was professional and substantive and lasted over an hour. There was no fundamental change to what has been unfolding for several weeks,” the official who asked not to be identified told reporters.
He noted that Washington had put forward proposals that would “enhance European security and also address some of the concerns expressed by Russia,” while promising to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
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“It remains unclear whether Russia is interested in pursuing those goals diplomatically rather than using force. We remain committed to the idea of de-escalation through diplomacy. But we also have a clear view on the prospect of that, given Russia’s apparent steps on the ground,” she said.
“The risks are too high to not give Russia every opportunity” to stop. “So, as always, we continue down both paths,” said the official.
Russia “is already finding itself increasingly isolated from the world and more dependent on China,” he concluded. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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