WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin for the second time this month as tension over the country’s placement of troops near the Ukrainian border continues, during what one official described as a “moment of crisis” for the region.
The call lasted 50 minutes, according to the White House, and was by phone only. President Biden took part from his Wilmington, Del. home.
Russia had requested the call, officials said, and it comes as the U.S. continues to coordinate with European allies “on a common approach” to Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine, National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement.
Russia has amassed 100,000 troops at the border with Ukraine, sparking fears of an invasion, but Russia has repeatedly denied that it plans to take such an action. During a call earlier this month, Biden warned Putin of “severe consequences” if Russia invaded Ukraine. In recent days, Russia has reportedly withdrawn roughly 10,000 troops from the border, but the possibility of an invasion remains real.
Senior U.S. and Russian officials were already set to hold security talks on Jan. 10 in Geneva to discuss the situation, and the two leaders are expected to discuss the upcoming engagements on Thursday’s call.
“President Biden has always believed that there is no substitute for direct leader-to-leader dialogue,” a senior administration official told reporters Wednesday.
In mid-December, the Kremlin published documents outlining its demands for the U.S. and NATO, which included a call for the alliance to deny Ukraine membership and for NATO to draw down its military presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
The U.S. is likely to reject Russia’s demands outright, but an official on Wednesday said that President Biden is hoping to move forward with a path of diplomacy while also standing ready to aid Ukraine if Russia does not move toward deescalation.
“We are prepared to provide Ukraine with further assistance to defend its territory and respond to a potential Russian occupation,” the senior administration official said, later adding: “We continue to be gravely concerned about the nature of the Russian troop presence there and the capabilities that they have.”
Officials did not give a specific reason why Russian officials had requested Thursday’s call, instead saying that “we are at a moment of crisis and have been for some weeks now given the Russian build-up” and noting the need for a “high level of engagement” to come to a solution.
In this image provided by The White House, President Joe Biden speaks as he meets virtually via a secure video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. At far left is White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, national security council senior director for Russian and Central Asia, Eric Green. (Adam Schultz/The White House via AP)
In this month’s first call with Putin, Biden “expressed deep concerns” related to “Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine” warned Putin that the U.S. and its allies “would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation.”
“I made it very clear, if in fact he invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences, severe consequences,” Biden said. “Economic consequences like none he’s ever seen or ever have been seen.”
Biden noted that sending U.S. troops to defend Ukraine against a possible Russian invasion is “not on the table.”
“The idea the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not in the cards right now,” Biden said. “What will happen is there will be severe consequences.”
The two countries were also set to hold security talks on Jan. 10, with Russia and NATO planning to hold talks on Jan. 12, as well as a broader meeting with Russia, the U.S. and European leaders on Jan. 13.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
