Vladimir Putin tells Biden he would ‘really’ like to meet | Breaking News Updates

The senior State Department official for Europe will visit Russia and Ukraine this week to discuss Russia’s military build-up near the Ukrainian border, less than a week after Biden told Putin in an appeal that the United States was prepared to impose strong economic measures in the event of an invasion by Russia. Ukraine, the State Department said on Saturday.

Peskov said the escalating tensions were aimed at “further demonizing Russia and portraying Russia as a potential aggressor.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the White House’s commitment to deter Russian military action in Ukraine and stressed that the current system of international relations “is in danger” if Russia continues to threaten Ukraine.

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Blinken denounced Russia’s increased military presence on its shared border with Ukraine, and said Biden relayed this message to Putin during their virtual meeting last week. He added that the diplomatic structure that “prevents the outbreak of war” could collapse if Russia continues its military escalation on the Ukrainian border.

“A country cannot dictate to another country its choices, its decisions in its foreign policy, with whom it will partner, a country cannot exercise a sphere of influence over others, that’s what Russia claims to affirm. And if we let it go with impunity, then the whole system that provides stability, prevents war from breaking out, is in danger. This is why it is so important. This is why the president has been very clear with President Putin, ”Blinken said.

Blinken said it was important for Biden and Putin to continue speaking directly, but stopped before saying the White House would be open to a second in-person meeting between the two leaders and would not answer direct questions about the probability of one.

When asked if the administration was considering a face-to-face meeting, Blinken dodged and said, “Video conferencing is important because as much as I can do with my counterpart, as much as other government colleagues can with it. theirs, when he arrives in Russia President Putin is the only person who really matters, and it is very important that President Biden speaks to him directly and clearly so that he understands from the head of the United States what he is risking exactly if he is pursuing aggression against Ukraine. ”

When asked what it would take for Biden to agree to an in-person meeting, Blinken did not comment directly, but did say that generally the United States and its partners in Europe “are looking for de-escalation. We are looking for a de-escalation. to see Russia withdraw and retreat from the border forces. And we seek to see Russia engage in good faith in diplomacy and diplomatic dialogue with the Europeans with Ukraine to resolve the conflict in the eastern part of the country. Ukraine. And to give Ukraine its border back. This is what we are looking to see. “