WASHINGTON (Fwrd Axis) — President Joe Biden will meet virtually with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday amid tensions between the two nations over Russia’s presence on the border of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed plans for the conversation on Saturday, saying “The presidents will decide themselves” how long their talk will last.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki released a statement on Saturday afternoon, confirming the details of the meeting between the two world leaders.
“The leaders will discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including strategic stability, cyber, and regional issues,” she said.
Biden will “underscore U.S. concerns with Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine and reaffirm the United States’ support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Psaki said.
Russia has sent over 90,000 combat troops to the border of Ukraine, saying they are responding to what they call “provocative actions by Ukraine and NATO countries”.
The Kremlin reports Putin plans to push Biden to not allow Ukraine into NATO.
“I don’t accept anyone’s red line,” Biden told reporters before departing the White House on Friday.
Biden added he is putting together a “comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do.” However, he did not get into details about those plans are.
Biden and Putin last met in Switzerland back in June for the first time since he took office.
The President has been tough on Russia since he took office. Biden imposed sanctions against Russian targets and called out Putin for his country interfering in the U.S. Elections along with the inhumane treatment of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was poisoned last year.
