US President Joseph Biden plans to hold a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on January 2. This was announced on Friday, December 31, by a White House spokesman.
During the conversation, Biden is expected to “reaffirm US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, discuss Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders, and consider preparations for upcoming diplomatic contacts to de-escalate in the region,” the White House said.
Zelensky ready to “coordinate with the US” steps for security in Europe
President Zelenskiy has already reacted to reports of the upcoming conversation.
“As we agreed with our strategic partner, the United States, nothing (should not be said. – Ed). about Ukraine without the presence of Ukraine, “he wrote on Twitter.” I look forward to talking with the US President again this Sunday to coordinate our steps for peace in Ukraine and security in Europe, “the Ukrainian leader said.
US President: Putin cannot invade Ukraine
Prior to that, Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, during his conversation with reporters, commented on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I am not going to negotiate in public here, but we made it clear that he cannot, I emphasize again, cannot invade Ukraine,” the US President said.
The American leader added that he “made it clear to President Putin” that if Russia takes this step, then Washington will go “to serious sanctions, as well as increase its presence in Europe with its NATO allies.”
Conversation between American and Russian leaders
Telephone conversations between Biden and Putin took place on the night of December 31. The conversation lasted about 50 minutes.
During the telephone conversation, the American leader called for a de-escalation of the conflict between Moscow and Kiev and promised that the United States and its allies would “resolutely respond” in the event of an invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, the White House press service reported after the conversation.
Washington is convinced that it is up to those countries that want to join NATO, and not third parties, to decide the issue of joining NATO, a representative of the United States administration confirmed, commenting on the results of the telephone conversation during a briefing. “Our position is absolutely clear. The decisions should be made by the sovereign countries themselves, in consultation with the alliance, and not someone else,” he said.
Putin: Sanctions against Russia will be a “grave mistake”
The Kremlin press service indicated that Putin, in a conversation with Biden, called the possibility of adopting large-scale sanctions against Russia in the event of an escalation of the situation around Ukraine “a serious mistake, in fact, threatening a complete rupture of Russian-American relations.”
Yuri Ushakov, aide to the Russian leader, later told reporters that the Kremlin was pleased with the contact between the presidents of the two countries. According to Ushakov, the leaders agreed to keep the upcoming negotiations under personal control and to continue telephone contacts.
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