Kremlin Spokesman Peskov Confirms Phone Conversation between Putin and Biden on Feb. 12
Photo: The White House / Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, February 12, plans to hold telephone conversations with US President Joe Biden. This was announced by the official representative of the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov.
Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, was the first to report a possible conversation between Biden and Putin. As the press secretary of the Russian leader clarified, the conversation with the head of the White House will take place at the initiative of the American side in the evening Moscow time. According to Peskov, the request was preceded by a written appeal from the United States.
Also on February 12, Vladimir Putin will talk by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Biden discussed Ukraine issue with EU leaders
Earlier on Friday, February 11, Joe Biden discussed the situation around Ukraine with European leaders. Video conversations over a secure line lasted 1 hour and 19 minutes. The conversation was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
According to the press service of the White House, the leaders expressed concern about the fact that Russia allegedly continues to build up military forces around Ukraine. They also expressed their desire to resolve the ongoing crisis through diplomacy. At the same time, politicians have come to an agreement that serious consequences and sanctions are necessary in case of aggression by Russia against Ukraine.
Invasion reports have become more frequent
In recent days, warnings about a potential conflict in Ukraine have become more frequent in the Western media. In particular, Bloomberg called February 15 the date of Russia's “invasion” of Ukraine. It is noted that Russia's actions may include a provocation in the Donbass or an attack on Kiev. However, they did not provide any evidence to support their claim.
Washington also expressed the opinion that Russia could take aggressive steps against Ukraine during the Beijing Olympics.
As we have said, we are in a position where an invasion could start at any moment.
Anthony BlinkengUS Secretary of State
In addition, Sullivan said that there is a high probability of capturing a significant territory of Ukraine and major cities. At the same time, the presidential aide stressed that the United States does not claim that Russia has made a final decision on the use of force against Ukraine.
Countries of the world call on their citizens to leave Ukraine
Earlier it became known that Norway, Latvia and the Netherlands called on their citizens to return from Ukraine because of the “serious and unpredictable” security situation. The Japanese authorities also sent a corresponding appeal to fellow citizens.
The recommendation not to visit Ukraine “due to the increased threat of Russian military operations and COVID-19” was also issued by the US State Department. South Korea has completely banned its citizens from traveling to this country since February 13.
In addition, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to evacuate the families of diplomats from Ukraine. At the same time, the diplomatic mission will continue its work. The British Foreign Office also announced the removal of ambassadors and urged citizens to refrain from traveling to Ukraine.
Russia denies allegations and claims Western hysteria
In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia accused Western countries of conducting an information attack against Moscow. The Foreign Ministry believes that the leaders of Western countries, in collusion with the media, are escalating tension around the situation in Ukraine in order to discredit the just demands of the Russian Federation for security guarantees. “Essentially, Western media served the political order of their governments, co-ordinated replicating false information, participating in a full-scale information war,” the agency said in a statement.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the White House's statements on the situation around Ukraine hysterical.
Provocations, disinformation and threats are a favorite method of solving one's own problems
Maria ZakharovaOfficial representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry
First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky also called the US alarmists and said that Russian troops are still on their territory. He suggested that the United States invade Ukraine itself, because “someone must after such an alarmist campaign.”
