While the smell of war wafts in the air between Russia and UkraineUS President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, agreed, during a phone call that lasted about fifty minutes, to continue the “diplomacy” and “deterrence” approaches towards Russia, according to what the White House reported.
In addition, the US statement said that “the two presidents agreed on the importance of continuing diplomacy and deterrence in response to the Russian military reinforcements on the borders of Ukraine,” adding that Biden reiterated his promise of a “quick and decisive” response from the United States, in coordination with its allies, in the event of “Russian aggression.” .
On the other hand, the Ukrainian president said that he discussed with Biden the existing risks and sanctions, in addition to Russian “aggression”. Adding via Twitter that the hour-long contact also dealt with security and economy between the two sides.
The US President had warned Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call against invading Ukraine. On Saturday, the White House said after the phone call that Biden stressed that the invasion “would cause great human suffering that would discredit Russia.”
Other scenarios
Biden said the United States would “respond firmly and impose heavy and immediate costs on Russia” if it invaded Ukraine, and was ready for diplomatic talks “as well as for other scenarios,” according to the White House statement.
Concerns are growing in the United States and Europe about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, prompting several countries, including Germany, to call on their citizens to leave Ukraine.
‘American hysteria’
For its part, the Kremlin denounced what it considered “peak” American hysteria after the phone call between Putin and Biden. “The two presidents agreed to continue contacts at all levels,” Yury Ushakov, the Russian president’s diplomatic advisor, told a press conference.
While Russia is demanding the West binding security guarantees, including a pledge to withdraw NATO forces from Eastern Europe and not to accept Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Washington has categorically rejected the Russian demands, while offering to discuss a new European disarmament agreement with Moscow.
It is noteworthy that for months, Washington has accused Moscow of mobilizing more than 100,000 soldiers on the border, which heralds an imminent invasion of Ukrainian territory.