Topline
President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that there would be “strong economic and other measures” should Russia move forward with an invasion of Ukraine during a lengthy video call Tuesday morning, the White House said in a statement.
U.S. president Joe Biden, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin last in-person meeting came in … [+]
Key Facts
Biden told Putin of his “deep concerns” over the tense situation at the Russia-Ukraine border, after American intelligence officials said last week they believe Russia is preparing for an invasion of the former Soviet republic that could involve about 175,000 troops.
The White House said Biden emphasized his support for Ukraine and called on “de-escalation and a return to diplomacy” from Russia.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during a Tuesday press briefing that the call was “direct and straightforward” and that Biden was “crystal clear” with Putin about the consequences Russia would face should an invasion occur.
Key Background
U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia is laying the groundwork for an operation that could commence as soon as early 2022, with materiel stockpiled sufficient for seven to 10 days of operations by front-line units and up to a month for support units, a source told CNN. The Biden Administration is already evaluating options to evacuate American citizens from Ukraine in the case of invasion, according to CNN.
Crucial Quote
Referencing the relatively mild U.S. response to Russia’s widely condemned annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, Sullivan said Tuesday: “I will look you in the eye and tell you, as President Biden looked President Putin in the eye and told him today, that things we did not do in 2014, we are prepared to do now. Now, in terms of the specifics, we would prefer to communicate that directly to the Russians—to not negotiate in public, to not telegraph our punches—but we are laying out for the Russians, in some detail, the types of measures that we have in mind.”
Further Reading
U.S. Intel Says Russia Is Preparing 175,000 Troops For Ukraine Offensive (Forbes)
EXPLAINER: What’s behind Russia-Ukraine tensions? (ABC News)
US says it will send troops to eastern Europe if Russia invades Ukraine (The Guardian)
Biden Weighs Russian Bank Sanctions If Putin Invades Ukraine (Bloomberg)
Biden, Putin Shake Hands As Highly Anticipated Summit Kicks Off In Geneva (Forbes)
Biden-Putin Meeting ‘Not About Friendship’, White House Says—As Cyberattacks Strain Relations (Forbes)
Biden Warns Russia That Navalny Must Leave Prison Alive (Forbes)
