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Biden and Putin hold talks amid Russia-Ukraine tensions | Biden and Putin hold talks amid Russia-Ukraine tensions |
(31 minutes later) | |
The two men spoke by video link | |
US President Joe Biden is holding rare talks by video link with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, amid tensions on Ukraine's eastern frontier. | US President Joe Biden is holding rare talks by video link with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, amid tensions on Ukraine's eastern frontier. |
Few expect a breakthrough, but Moscow says talks are needed as tensions in Europe are "off the scale". | Few expect a breakthrough, but Moscow says talks are needed as tensions in Europe are "off the scale". |
Russia has moved thousands of troops to the border, but insists it has no intention of attacking Ukraine. | Russia has moved thousands of troops to the border, but insists it has no intention of attacking Ukraine. |
It wants guarantees Ukraine will not join Nato, but Western powers say Kyiv's sovereignty should be respected. | It wants guarantees Ukraine will not join Nato, but Western powers say Kyiv's sovereignty should be respected. |
The talks began at 10:07 US Eastern time (15:07 GMT), the White House said. | |
Video footage of the opening moments showed friendly greetings between the US and Russian leaders. | |
Mr Biden and Mr Putin last met in person in Switzerland in June, but made little progress other than to agree to send their ambassadors back and begin a dialogue on nuclear arms control. | Mr Biden and Mr Putin last met in person in Switzerland in June, but made little progress other than to agree to send their ambassadors back and begin a dialogue on nuclear arms control. |
In a conference call on Monday night, the White House said the leaders of the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy had formed a joint strategy "to impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy" should Russia launch an invasion. | In a conference call on Monday night, the White House said the leaders of the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy had formed a joint strategy "to impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy" should Russia launch an invasion. |
BACKGROUND: Why Russia is stoking border tensions with Ukraine | BACKGROUND: Why Russia is stoking border tensions with Ukraine |
Possible measures include restrictions on Russia's banks converting roubles into foreign currencies, or even disconnecting Russia from the Swift global financial payment system, reports say. | Possible measures include restrictions on Russia's banks converting roubles into foreign currencies, or even disconnecting Russia from the Swift global financial payment system, reports say. |
Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will not try to seize areas captured by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 and has warned the West not to cross "red lines" by adding Ukraine to Nato's military alliance. | Russia wants guarantees that Ukraine will not try to seize areas captured by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 and has warned the West not to cross "red lines" by adding Ukraine to Nato's military alliance. |
More than 90,000 Russian troops are believed to be massed near Ukraine's borders. | More than 90,000 Russian troops are believed to be massed near Ukraine's borders. |
This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
Russian troop build-up: View from Ukraine front line | Russian troop build-up: View from Ukraine front line |
A large part of the recent Russian military build-up is in Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine and then annexed in 2014. | A large part of the recent Russian military build-up is in Crimea, which Russia seized from Ukraine and then annexed in 2014. |
Troops are also gathering near Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, the name for parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions which are under the control of Russian-backed separatists. | Troops are also gathering near Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, the name for parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions which are under the control of Russian-backed separatists. |
Ukrainian officials have said Moscow could be planning a military offensive at the end of January. | Ukrainian officials have said Moscow could be planning a military offensive at the end of January. |
More than 14,000 people have lost their lives in seven years of conflict since Russian-backed forces seized large areas of Ukraine's east. | More than 14,000 people have lost their lives in seven years of conflict since Russian-backed forces seized large areas of Ukraine's east. |