Washington, United States | AFP | 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 partners and partners, will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia,” it adds.
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 more than an hour. There was no fundamental change from what has been going on for several weeks,” the official who asked not to be identified told reporters.
He noted that Washington had tabled proposals that “would enhance European security and also address some of the concerns expressed by Russia,” while promising to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“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,” he said.
“The risks are too high not to give Russia every opportunity” to stop. “So, as always, we continue down both paths,” said the official.
Russia “is already finding itself more and more isolated from the world and more dependent on China,” he concluded.
