White House: Russian President Putin and Joe Biden will discuss de-escalation around Ukraine on December 30
Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. Photo: Mikhail Metzel / Reuters
The White House revealed details about the forthcoming telephone conversation on Thursday, December 30, between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden. During a briefing for journalists, a high-ranking US administration official said that Biden intends to discuss de-escalation around Ukraine. His words are reported by TASS.
On December 30, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden will have a telephone conversation
A US official said the US continues to observe a significant Russian presence near the Ukrainian border.
We continued to make it clear to the Russian side (…) that real progress for us in these negotiations would be to reach a state where we have security and stability in Europe, an environment of de-escalation, not escalation, would be needed. Obviously this will be part of what President Biden will hand over to President Putin tomorrow.
White House spokesman
What else will Putin and Biden discuss?
A White House spokesman noted that Putin and Biden may consider the progress of negotiations with Iran on a nuclear deal. He recalled that the presidents discussed the topic of Iran during the talks via video link on December 7. In his opinion, the leaders will want to discuss this topic against the background of the prospects discussed in Vienna of a full return to compliance with the provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The US, our European partners and the Russians are very closely coordinating [actions] in Vienna, in fact they are working together in Vienna very constructively. So I think the presidents are going to want to check their watches, to make sure that we can strengthen the close coordination [actions] that take place in the five plus one process.
White House spokesman
Russia requested a conversation
On December 29, the White House clarified that Russia had requested a telephone conversation between Putin and Biden.
Tomorrow the presidents will talk on the phone at the request of the Russian side
White House spokesman
According to him, the US President is convinced that “there is no substitute for direct dialogue between leaders, and this is especially true when it comes to Russia.”
The conversation became known earlier on December 29. The conversation is scheduled for 15:30 Moscow time. According to Emily Horn, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, politicians will touch upon a whole range of topics, including upcoming negotiations, as well as a meeting at the OSCE site and a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council.
Information about the upcoming conversation was confirmed by the press secretary of the head of state of Russia Dmitry Peskov.
Indeed, late tomorrow evening Putin is scheduled to have a telephone conversation with the President of the United States.
Dmitry PeskovPress Secretary of the President of Russia
A few days earlier, Peskov had stated that Putin had established a constructive and good dialogue with his American counterpart Joe Biden. According to him, the leaders of states in a very businesslike and very respectful manner set out to each other those moments in which their points of view differ diametrically.
Security concerns
During a telephone briefing to reporters on December 29, a senior US official also said that the US administration did not intend to publicize its international security concerns, as Russia did. According to him, Washington intends to use its methods, which are in direct interaction with Russia to understand concerns and expectations.
The US administration official noted that the point of contact between Russia and the United States is that countries can achieve more progress at the negotiating table with each other, behind closed doors, as well as through close consultations with allies and partners.
I cannot talk about why the Russian side requested this telephone conversation (the presidents of the two countries on December 30). I can only analyze the period over the last year, we requested a conversation with President Putin, President Putin requested a conversation with President Biden. I think both leaders believe that there is real value in direct interaction at the highest level (…) at a time of crisis
White House spokesman
He also denied information that the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, would participate in the upcoming talks on security guarantees in Geneva. The US delegation will be led by State Department officials, the official said.
On December 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published the draft agreements of the Russian Federation with NATO and the United States on security guarantees. The document, in particular, says that the United States should not create military bases in the territories of the former USSR countries that are not members of NATO. The United States also did not recommend using their infrastructure for any military activity and developing bilateral military cooperation with them.
