Biden and Putin Phone Call on the 30th... Discussion on Ukraine Issue

President Joe Biden of the United States and President Vladimir Putin of Russia
[Photo by AFP TASS Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to discuss the Ukraine issue during a phone call on the afternoon of the 30th (local time), CNN reported on the 29th.

Emily Horne, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC), stated, "The call was arranged at President Putin's request," adding, "President Biden accepted the call request based on the belief that there is no substitute for direct dialogue between leaders on issues related to Russia."

The United States and Russia plan to hold a series of meetings early next month to discuss the Ukraine issue. On the 10th of next month, the first round of talks on security guarantees will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, with representatives from both countries' foreign and defense ministries participating. This will be followed by negotiations between Russia and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) on the 12th, and between Russia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on the 13th. The OSCE is a pan-European security forum that includes NATO member states, former Soviet countries, and all European nations.

With the United States and Russia preparing for consecutive negotiations, attention is focused on whether the phone call between the two leaders will provide a dramatic turning point to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Russia has recently increased tensions by deploying 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border region.

Russia is seeking an official guarantee that Ukraine and other former Soviet states will not join NATO. On the 17th, Russia publicly presented its security guarantee demands, including a ban on NATO expansion.

While the United States has taken a negative stance on Russia's demands, it has expressed a willingness to seek diplomatic solutions through dialogue.

It is reported that the United States recently informed its European allies that Russia could invade Ukraine early next month and that they should prepare accordingly. A White House official stated that, regarding the Ukraine issue, there have been no Russian moves to ease tensions so far.

The call is expected to focus intensively on discussions about the security guarantees demanded by Russia and ways to reduce tensions in the border area with Ukraine. This call comes 23 days after the virtual summit between the U.S. and Russian leaders held on the 7th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.