US Presidents Joe Biden and French Emmanuel Macron announced that Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had agreed in principle to hold a summit on Ukraine, providing a potential path out of one of the most serious European crises in decades.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said on Monday that US Presidents Joe Biden and Russian Vladimir Putin had agreed in principle to hold a summit on the Ukraine crisis. “What will be discussed at the summit will have to be prepared by US Secretary of State Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov during their meeting on Thursday, February 24,” the Elysee Palace said.
“It can only be held on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine,” he added.
The statement added that Macron will help prepare what will be discussed in the talks.
The White House said in a statement that Biden agreed to meet “in principle” but only “if there is no invasion.”
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Foreign Ministers Blinken and Lavrov are scheduled to meet later this week in Europe, provided that Russia does not initiate any military action.
Psaki explained that President Biden has repeatedly stressed the United States’ commitment to pursue diplomatic efforts until the moment the invasion began.
Psaki reiterated Washington’s readiness to impose severe and rapid consequences if Russia chooses war rather than a diplomatic solution, noting that Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a large-scale attack on Ukraine in a very short time, as she put it.