US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle on Monday at local time to hold a summit on the Ukraine crisis, according to information from the president’s office. from France, Emmanuel Macron.
In a statement, the French government said Macron had suggested to the two leaders a summit on “security and strategic stability in Europe”.
“Presidents Biden and Putin accepted the principle of such a summit,” the statement said, before adding that the meeting would be impossible if Russia invaded Ukraine, as Western nations fear. The White House did not return to the positions requested by the report.
The announcement – released after a series of phone calls between Macron and leaders on both sides of the Atlantic – comes after a week of heightened tensions spurred by Russia’s military buildup on the Ukrainian border.
Tensions increased after Belarus Defense Ministry Viktor Khrenin announced that Russia would extend military exercises in the country that were due to end on Sunday. Satellite images revealed further movements of Russian armored vehicles and troops near Ukraine.
The White House said Biden was canceling a trip to Delaware and staying in Washington after a two-hour meeting of his National Security Council.
The US-based satellite imaging company Maxar has reported several new deployments of Russian military units in forests, farms and industrial areas less than 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to the company, it represents a change from what had been seen in recent weeks.
“Until recently, most deployments were seen primarily positioned in or near military garrisons or in existing training areas,” Maxar said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the CNN, that “everything we are seeing suggests this is very serious”, adding that the West is equally prepared if Moscow invades.
“Until the tanks are actually rolling and the planes are flying, let’s take every opportunity and every minute that we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from taking this further.”
(*With information from CNN International)
Source: CNN Brasil
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