President Joe Biden is open to speaking directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said, extending the prospect of leader-to-leader talks as a possible diplomatic salvo in the push to dial down fears of an attack by Moscow on Ukraine.
Putin, who has spoken directly to European allies, said Tuesday that the United States is ignoring his security demands but invited more talks.
Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the president was “certainly open” to speaking with the Russian leader if doing so would provide “the most constructive step moving forward.”
BIDEN’S SANCTIONS SOLUTION TO PUTIN’S UKRAINE THREAT FACES HURDLES
She also said that while the door to diplomacy is open, a de-escalation of Russian forces would “make that diplomatic path easier.”
Moscow has amassed some 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, prompting fears of an invasion. Russia has denied any intent to invade Ukraine, but talks with Western allies over the buildup have yielded little progress.
Putin has said that an end to the conflict could be reached if all parties’ interests are met, including Russia’s security demands.
“I hope that we will eventually find a solution, although we realize that it’s not going to be easy,” Putin said Tuesday.
Washington and European allies have rejected Moscow’s demand for a rollback of forces from former Soviet states and a pledge that the alliance will not add Ukraine as a member.
On Monday, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned in remarks at the U.N. Security Council that Moscow had moved 5,000 troops into Belarus, a neighbor within striking distance of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
U.S. intelligence predicts that the number of troops on the Belarus-Ukraine border could grow to more than 30,000 by early February, she added.
