Biden Holds 62-Minute Phone Negotiation with Putin... No Progress in Ukraine Crisis

U.S. President Joe Biden (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Amid escalating tensions surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on the 12th (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 62-minute phone call to discuss the Ukraine situation.

According to the White House, during the call, President Biden mentioned Russia's military buildup near the Ukrainian border. He emphasized, "If Russia invades Ukraine, the United States will respond firmly together with its allies and partners," adding, "Russia will face swift and severe consequences."

President Biden also pointed out that an invasion of Ukraine would result in widespread loss of life and damage Russia's standing. The White House stated, "President Biden made it clear to President Putin that the United States remains prepared to engage diplomatically," and added, "We are also prepared for other scenarios."

The call took place amid peak tensions between the West, including the U.S., and Russia over Ukraine. Russia, which annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, has recently deployed 130,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. U.S. intelligence agencies assess that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could occur at any time.

A senior official from the Biden administration told local media such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) after the call that "there was no fundamental change." The call was reportedly arranged at President Putin's request. Previously, President Biden and President Putin had two phone calls in December last year regarding the Ukraine situation, but those only served to confirm each side's positions.

Major countries including the U.S., South Korea, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia have been consecutively advising their nationals residing in Ukraine to evacuate. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv confirmed via Twitter on the same day that "the State Department has ordered embassy staff without urgent duties to evacuate."

Meanwhile, President Putin also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Ukraine situation on the same day. The ?lys?e Palace, the French presidential office, confirmed that the two leaders had a phone call lasting about 100 minutes. During the call, President Macron emphasized to President Putin that sincere dialogue and escalating tensions cannot coexist.

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