The Kremlin issued a press release following a videoconference between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. The presidents discussed “issues related to the internal Ukrainian crisis”, cyber security, the Iranian nuclear issue and bilateral relations. The Kremlin noted the “frank and businesslike” nature of the conversation.
The Kremlin’s message says that the “predominant” place in the discussion of Ukrainian topics was taken by the lack of progress in Kiev’s implementation of the Minsk agreements. “The President of Russia, with specific examples, illustrated the destructive line of Kiev, aimed at the complete dismantling of the Minsk agreements and agreements reached in the” Normandy format “, expressed serious concern about the provocative actions of Kiev against Donbass,” the message says.
Joe Biden drew attention to the allegedly “threatening” nature of the movement of Russian troops near the Ukrainian borders and said that the United States and its allies are ready to impose sanctions in the event of further escalation of the situation. This is also stated in a press release, which appeared on the White House website an hour earlier.
Vladimir Putin responded by saying that “NATO is making dangerous attempts to conquer Ukrainian territory” and is building up its military capabilities near the Russian border. “Therefore, Russia is seriously interested in obtaining reliable, legally fixed guarantees that exclude NATO’s eastward expansion and the deployment of offensive strike weapons systems in states adjacent to Russia,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
The presidents agreed to “instruct their representatives to engage in substantive consultations on these sensitive issues.”
The parties stated that bilateral cooperation “is still in an unsatisfactory state.” This is manifested, in particular, in the difficulties that the diplomatic missions of both countries are experiencing in their work, which are forced to be reduced. According to Vladimir Putin, this is a consequence of the line of the US authorities, which five years ago began to practice large-scale restrictions, bans and mass expulsions of Russian diplomats, “to which we have to react in a mirror-like manner.” “The Russian side proposed to nullify all the accumulated restrictions on the functioning of diplomatic missions, which could serve to normalize other aspects of bilateral relations,” the Kremlin said in a statement. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the possibility of such a “zeroing”.
“The Presidents expressed the opinion that, taking into account their special responsibility for maintaining international security and stability, Russia and the United States will continue dialogue and necessary contacts. In general, the conversation was frank and businesslike, ”the Kremlin said.
About the expectations from today’s negotiations – in the material of “Kommersant” “Summit to Ukraine! Summit to the heroes! “
.