US President Joe Biden has warned his Russian counterpart that Moscow will face “severe sanctions”, mainly of an economic nature, in the event of an escalation in Ukraine, the White House said.
In talks that lasted about two hours between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, he was the first to express deep concern about Washington and its European allies in concentrating Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. He also made it clear that the United States and its allies would respond with economic sanctions and other measures if there was a military escalation, the White House added.
Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for a de-escalation of the situation and a return to diplomacy.
According to the White House, the two leaders also discussed issues of strategic stability, ransom cyber-attacks and their co-operation on regional issues, such as Iran.
Biden and Putin instructed their teams to continue contacts. The United States will coordinate its actions with its allies, the White House added in a statement.
.@POTUS held a secure video call with President Putin of Russia today to discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including our concerns about Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine, cyber, and regional issues. pic.twitter.com/VKdjJhwnhe
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 7, 2021
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