U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the U.S. and French leaders said, offering a possible path out from one of the most dangerous European crises in decades.
The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on Monday he had pitched both leaders on a summit over “security and strategic stability in Europe.” The White House said in a statement that Biden had accepted the meeting “in principle” but only “if an invasion hasn’t happened.”
Biden agrees Ukraine deal with Putin
“We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. “We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war.”
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A request for comment by WTX news seeking comment from the Kremlin was not immediately returned early Monday. But we have a statement from the US Secretary of State confirming that President Biden agrees with Ukraine deal with Putin.
Many details about the proposed summit – which was announced after a volley of phone calls between Macron, Biden, Putin, and British leader Boris Johnson – are unclear. But all the statements reiterate that President Biden agrees Ukraine deal with Putin in principle.
The French President’s office and the White House (statement) said that the substance of the summit would be worked out by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their upcoming meeting planned for Feb. 24.
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