Politico | Joe Biden suggests summit meeting on call with Vladimir Putin amid Russian build-up in Ukraine

The discussion would be held ‘in a third country’, the US president proposed
The two leaders also discussed Russia’s military build-up and ongoing tension with Ukraine

Joe Biden

POLITICO

Published: 12:55am, 14 Apr 2021

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This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Nick Niedzwiadek on politico.com on April 13, 2021.

US President Joe Biden suggested a potential meeting “in the coming months” with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a call between the two leaders on Tuesday.

Biden suggested a summit meeting “in a third country”, according to a summary of the call released by the White House. It did not include Putin’s reaction to the offer.

It was one of several topics raised during the conversation, according to the readout. The White House said that Biden “emphasised the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” amid rising tensions between that country and Russia.

Ukrainian servicemen are seen inside a fortified position on the frontline with Russia backed separatists near small city of Marinka, Donetsk region, on Monday. Photo: AFP

The Russian military has built up its military presence in Crimea and along its border with Ukraine, raising concerns among the US and its allies of a potential conflict.

Russia has stationed the highest number of troops along Ukraine’s border since 2014, and leaders there have been mulling how to respond to the moves from Moscow – including whether to deploy US-manufactured weapons.

Biden held a call with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, earlier this month, in addition to other high-level calls between US and Ukrainian officials. Over the weekend Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “real concerns” about Russia’s military build-up.

“If Russia acts recklessly, or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences,” Blinken said on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Can Ukraine deploy US-made weapons against the Russians?

Biden also restated his support for additional arms control negotiations with Russia.

Soon after taking office in January Biden and Putin agreed to a five-year extension of the New START treaty that was set to expire.

In addition, “President Biden also made clear that the United States will act firmly in defence of its national interests in response to Russia’s actions, such as cyber intrusions and election interference,” the White House said.

Read Politico’s story.