Ukraine-Russia tensions: Vladimir Poutine and Joe Biden exchanged, “no concessions” from the United States – LCI

Their exchange was expected, but everyone seems to have camped on their positions. This Tuesday, December 7, US President Joe Biden spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Poutin, about the situation in Ukraine, resuming dialogue on this highly sensitive subject. For two hours, by videoconference, the two heads of state tried to avoid the escalation, each defending his policy.

According to the Kremlin, talks between two of the planet’s strongmen have been “frank”. According to the same source, Vladimir Putin first denounced the growing military potential of NATO at the gates of Russia, asking for “guarantees” on the non-expansion of the alliance towards the east. “NATO is making dangerous attempts to use Ukrainian territory and develop its military potential at our borders, which is why Russia has a serious interest in secure legal guarantees excluding NATO expansion to the east”, writes in particular the Kremlin in a press release.

Vladimir Putin also asked Joe Biden not to “to put the responsibility (of the events in Ukraine) on the shoulders of Russia”, given the behavior of the Atlantic Alliance. He also denounced “the destructive line of Kiev” who, according to him, seeks to “to disassemble” the 2015 Minsk Accords, a peace process meant to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. “The leaders have agreed to ask their representatives to start substantive consultations on these sensitive subjects”, indicates the Russian presidency.

In addition, Vladimir Putin proposed to Joe Biden to lift all retaliatory measures against the diplomatic missions of their two countries taken in recent months. “The Russian side has offered to wipe out all accumulated restrictions on the functioning of diplomatic missions, which could help normalize other aspects of bilateral relations.” Russian-American, according to the Kremlin, which judges that relations between Moscow and Washington “are not in satisfactory condition”.

But Vladimir Putin does not seem to have been fully heard. According to the White House, the US president did not respond favorably to Vladimir Putin’s requests. Joe Biden did not “promises or concessions” to the Russian president, his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, assured during a press conference following the virtual meeting. The United States must provide “choose freely” their allies, he insisted.

According to a statement from the White House, the US president also “let know” to Vladimir Putin that Russia would expose itself to “strong sanctions, among other economic ones”, in the event of military escalation in Ukraine. Joe Biden notably expressed to the Russian President the “deep concern” of the United States in the face of the accumulation of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.

Russia is in fact accused by the Americans of having prepared “significant aggressive acts” against his Ukrainian neighbor, even if “the Russian army does not threaten anyone”, answers the Kremlin. To deter Russia from attacking Ukraine, the United States therefore threatened to use as “the sink” the Nord Stream II gas pipeline, through which Russia wants to supply Europe with natural gas when it is in operation. “If Vladimir Putin wants the future Nord Stream II to carry gas, he may not take the risk of invading Ukraine”, Jake Sullivan warned.

Shortly after the meeting with Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden called several of his European counterparts – Germany, Italy, United Kingdom – but also the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for “inform them” the content of the exchanges “and consult each other on the procedure to follow”. The Head of State will also meet “in the next few days” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as with Vladimir Putin.

In addition, Emmanuel Macron will receive the new German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, at the Élysée on Friday, among others for “examine ways to re-engage Russia in the ‘Normandy’ format between Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France”, indicates this Tuesday evening the palace. “The five leaders reaffirmed their determination to work together to guarantee the sovereignty of Ukraine and ensure that its stability and security are ensured”, specifies the Elysee in a press release. “In this regard, they remain vigilant on any aggressive initiatives that could be taken by Russia towards Ukraine.”