RTTue, 07 Dec 2021 15:55 UTC
© kremlin.ruUS President Joe Biden • Russian President Vladimir Putin • Video Summit
Talks have begun between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden, with the pair expected to discuss a range of issues,
including how to de-escalate a worsening standoff over Ukraine.Speaking via a secure video link on Tuesday, Biden told Putin that "we didn't get to see one another at the G20 - I hope next time we meet we do it in person." The Russian president only spoke virtually at the October meeting of world leaders, the Kremlin then citing the worsening Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Following the televised introductions, the pair are due to
hold talks in private, with Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, saying the discussion will go on "for as long as it takes." A number of areas are understood to be on the agenda, including US fears that Russia is preparing an invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which Moscow has consistently denied.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that
"contact is badly needed, we have multiplying problems. There is no progression on bilateral affairs, which are more and more spiraling into a phase of acute crisis."
The two presidents met in June for a summit in the Swiss city of Geneva, with Putin hailing the talks as "constructive," while Biden praised his counterpart as a "statesman." Aides said that positive undertakings had been made around nuclear proliferation and on handling the Covid-19 pandemic. However, hopes for a thaw in relations appear to have stalled since then, with each side accusing the other of military escalations in Eastern Europe.
Comment: Progress comes with a price not many are ready and willing to pay.
A video conference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden has ended after just over two hours.
A White House readout of the call said Biden voiced "deep concerns" of the US over Russia's "escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine" and threatened "strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation." Ransomware and "regional issues such as Iran" were also brought up.
Biden is expected to contact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the leaders of UK, France, Germany and Italy after his conversation with Putin, according to the White House. His national security adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to brief reporters on the call later in the day.
Here's
Trump's prediction of the Putin-Biden meeting:
Trump protested that the upcoming meeting between Biden and Putin would not be "a fair match for our country," claiming:
"This is not a match that should even be allowed. The New England Patriots playing your high school football team - that's what you have right now."
On being asked about Biden's scheduled virtual meeting with Putin on Tuesday, during which the two will reportedly discuss Ukraine, Trump tore into the Biden administration and praised his own record of dealing with world leaders.
"We never had any problem. Nobody was tougher on Russia than I was. And I liked Putin - got along with him very well," Trump said on Newsmax's Spicer & Co, before boasting of his administration's opposition to Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline across Europe.
"I got along with Putin, but I was tough with Putin - tougher than anybody ever. And tougher than anybody on China. I got along great with Kim Jong-un, I got along great with President Xi of China, and I got along well with Putin, but I was tough with all of them."
Comment: Progress comes with a price not many are ready and willing to pay. Here's Trump's prediction of the Putin-Biden meeting: