Call between Biden and Putin | “Severe and rapid repercussions” in the event of an attack on Ukraine

(Washington) US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of the “severe and rapid repercussions” that Moscow would face if attacked by Ukraine, during a phone call lasting just over an hour. Saturday between the two leaders, announced the White House.

The United States and its allies “will respond resolutely and impose severe and swift repercussions on Russia” if the latter invades Ukraine, the US executive said.

Joe Biden reaffirmed that an invasion “would cause considerable human suffering and weaken Russia’s position”, according to the White House.

The United States and its allies, who are calling for a diplomatic solution, are “just as ready for other scenarios”, he told Vladimir Putin.

The long-awaited exchange, which was “professional and rich”, did not however lead to “fundamental change in the dynamics that we have been observing for several weeks now”, an American official told reporters.

According to this source, Washington has put forward proposals that would “improve European security and address some of the Russian concerns”, while respecting Ukrainian sovereignty.

“We still don’t know if Russia will favor diplomacy over the use of force,” the official said, adding that the stakes were “too high not to give Russia every chance” to withdraw.

Moscow “already finds itself increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, and dependent on China,” he added.

Washington had argued Friday that an attack on Ukraine could be imminent, accusations described as “provocative” by the master of the Kremlin.

An intense diplomatic ballet took place on Saturday: before his call with Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The latter, who also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, must call the American President and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Earlier, the head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken had told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the diplomatic channel remained “open” to avoid a conflict, but would require a “de-escalation” from Moscow.