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| Biden warns Putin of 'strong measures' amid Ukraine invasion fears | Biden warns Putin of 'strong measures' amid Ukraine invasion fears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Putin joined the meeting by video link from Sochi | Putin joined the meeting by video link from Sochi |
| The US says it is preparing "robust responses" over fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, after Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin spoke on Tuesday. | |
| In a video link, President Biden voiced deep concerns over Russian troop build-ups and threatened "strong economic and other measures", Washington said. | |
| Russia says it will not attack Ukraine. | Russia says it will not attack Ukraine. |
| President Putin accused Ukraine of provocation, and sought guarantees against eastward Nato expansion and deployment of weapons close to Russia. | |
| The talks began at 10:07 US Eastern time (15:07 GMT; 18:07 Moscow time), the White House said. | The talks began at 10:07 US Eastern time (15:07 GMT; 18:07 Moscow time), the White House said. |
| They were held on a secure video link set up under previous administrations but never used before, Russian news agency Tass said. | They were held on a secure video link set up under previous administrations but never used before, Russian news agency Tass said. |
| Video footage of the opening moments showed friendly greetings between the US and Russian leaders. The talks then continued behind closed doors, lasting about two hours. | Video footage of the opening moments showed friendly greetings between the US and Russian leaders. The talks then continued behind closed doors, lasting about two hours. |
| Mr Putin held the talks from his residence in the southern resort of Sochi, according to Tass. | Mr Putin held the talks from his residence in the southern resort of Sochi, according to Tass. |
| ANALYSIS: Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? | ANALYSIS: Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? |
| After Tuesday's video call, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told journalists Washington was preparing specific robust responses in the weeks ahead if they were required. | After Tuesday's video call, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told journalists Washington was preparing specific robust responses in the weeks ahead if they were required. |
| "Things we did not do in 2014 we are prepared to do now," he said, referring to Western responses to Russia's annexation of Crimea. | "Things we did not do in 2014 we are prepared to do now," he said, referring to Western responses to Russia's annexation of Crimea. |
| "There was a lot of give and take, there was no finger-wagging, but the president was crystal clear where the United States stands on all of these issues," he added. | "There was a lot of give and take, there was no finger-wagging, but the president was crystal clear where the United States stands on all of these issues," he added. |
| The measures included economic sanctions and other actions such as additional troop deployments to Nato allies in the region and defence materiel for Ukraine. | The measures included economic sanctions and other actions such as additional troop deployments to Nato allies in the region and defence materiel for Ukraine. |
| Mr Biden was accompanied by top officials for the call | Mr Biden was accompanied by top officials for the call |
| He refused to be drawn on what the economic measures might be, saying the US would prefer to communicate them directly to the Russians. | He refused to be drawn on what the economic measures might be, saying the US would prefer to communicate them directly to the Russians. |
| But he said that Nord Stream 2, a new pipeline to Germany which is not yet in operation, provided "leverage" for the US and its allies. | But he said that Nord Stream 2, a new pipeline to Germany which is not yet in operation, provided "leverage" for the US and its allies. |
| "If Vladimir Putin wants to see gas flow through that pipeline, he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine," he said. | "If Vladimir Putin wants to see gas flow through that pipeline, he may not want to take the risk of invading Ukraine," he said. |
| Earlier reports said US officials had reached agreement with Germany to shut down the pipeline in the event of an invasion. | Earlier reports said US officials had reached agreement with Germany to shut down the pipeline in the event of an invasion. |
| Other 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. | Other 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. |
| What form Russia's military option could take | What form Russia's military option could take |
| By Jonathan Marcus of the Strategy and Security Institute, University of Exeter | By Jonathan Marcus of the Strategy and Security Institute, University of Exeter |
| Russia's military option could take a variety of forms from a large incursion, to a significant invasion of the eastern part of Ukraine. One aim would be to bring the main fighting elements of the Ukrainian army to battle and to inflict such a defeat upon them that the Kyiv government has to rethink its position. | Russia's military option could take a variety of forms from a large incursion, to a significant invasion of the eastern part of Ukraine. One aim would be to bring the main fighting elements of the Ukrainian army to battle and to inflict such a defeat upon them that the Kyiv government has to rethink its position. |
| Invading territory amidst a hostile population has significant risks. Ukraine's armed forces have had some Western weaponry and training and are much improved since 2015. However, Russian forces have also improved over recent years. The firepower Russia is building up is impressive. For all the talk about Ukrainian sovereignty Nato cannot and will not come to Ukraine's aid. | Invading territory amidst a hostile population has significant risks. Ukraine's armed forces have had some Western weaponry and training and are much improved since 2015. However, Russian forces have also improved over recent years. The firepower Russia is building up is impressive. For all the talk about Ukrainian sovereignty Nato cannot and will not come to Ukraine's aid. |
| And additional weapons supplies might simply contribute to Russia's justification for war. | And additional weapons supplies might simply contribute to Russia's justification for war. |
| Moscow's calculation of the costs of conflict may also be influenced by previous military deployments. While the West currently sees military engagements through the prism of the strategic defeats in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia may take a very different view. Its operations in Georgia, its seizure of Crimea, its combat in eastern Ukraine - not to mention its involvement in Syria - may all be seen by President Putin as relative victories. | Moscow's calculation of the costs of conflict may also be influenced by previous military deployments. While the West currently sees military engagements through the prism of the strategic defeats in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia may take a very different view. Its operations in Georgia, its seizure of Crimea, its combat in eastern Ukraine - not to mention its involvement in Syria - may all be seen by President Putin as relative victories. |
| Of all the military contingencies, Michael Kofman, of the US Centre for Naval Analyses, still thinks that if it happens it will be big. "I think Russia is in the best position since 2014 economically, politically, and militarily to execute such an operation, which is not to say it will happen, but simply to suggest that there are the fewest constraints relative to other periods when it has conducted offensive operations." | Of all the military contingencies, Michael Kofman, of the US Centre for Naval Analyses, still thinks that if it happens it will be big. "I think Russia is in the best position since 2014 economically, politically, and militarily to execute such an operation, which is not to say it will happen, but simply to suggest that there are the fewest constraints relative to other periods when it has conducted offensive operations." |
| Read the full analysis | Read the full analysis |
| 'Reliable guarantees' | 'Reliable guarantees' |
| Meanwhile, a Kremlin statement (in Russian) said Mr Putin had stressed that Russia should not be held responsible for tensions because Nato was making "dangerous attempts to take over Ukrainian territory and increasing its military potential" on Russia's borders. | Meanwhile, a Kremlin statement (in Russian) said Mr Putin had stressed that Russia should not be held responsible for tensions because Nato was making "dangerous attempts to take over Ukrainian territory and increasing its military potential" on Russia's borders. |
| "Therefore Russia is seriously interested in getting reliable guarantees fixed in law to rule out the eastward expansion of Nato and the location in countries neighbouring Russia of offensive weapons systems," the statement added. | "Therefore Russia is seriously interested in getting reliable guarantees fixed in law to rule out the eastward expansion of Nato and the location in countries neighbouring Russia of offensive weapons systems," the statement added. |
| Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that, while the talks brought "no sensations", he was grateful for Mr Biden's "unwavering support". | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that, while the talks brought "no sensations", he was grateful for Mr Biden's "unwavering support". |
| 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. |
| Mr Biden spoke to the four European leaders again after his talks with Mr Putin. | Mr Biden spoke to the four European leaders again after his talks with Mr Putin. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, parts of which are under the control of Russian-backed separatists. | Troops are also gathering near Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, parts of 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. |