Putin, in a conversation with Biden, announced a complete breakdown in relations with the United States in the event of the introduction of “unprecedented sanctions” against Russia

The presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, had a telephone conversation that lasted 50 minutes. This is the second negotiations between the leaders of the two countries over the past month, celebrated on the Kremlin website. They take place against the background of reports of a pulling together of Russian troops to the border with Ukraine in connection with a possible preparation for invasion.

V a statement After the talks, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki noted that Biden called on Moscow to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine and made it clear that the United States and its allies would give a decisive response if Russia invaded Ukraine. In particular, the American president promised that Western countries would impose “large-scale sanctions”, including in the economic and military spheres.

According to the aide to the head of the President of the Russian Federation Yuri Ushakov, Putin pointed to the possibility of a complete rupture of relations between Washington and Moscow in the event that “unprecedented sanctions” are imposed on Russia. It can also lead to the severing of ties with other Western countries.

The journalists asked Ushakov what they mean when they talk about “severing ties with the West.” “[Это] does not suggest anything, because we do not know what “large-scale sanctions” are, but we know that this will be a colossal mistake, which can lead to the most serious consequences, “- explained a Kremlin spokesman, who quotes TASS.

According to Ushakov, Biden said that the United States does not intend to deploy offensive strike weapons in Ukraine.

On December 7, the presidents of Russia and the United States communicated via video link. Then their conversation lasted about two hours. After that, Russia put forward conditions on security guarantees to the US and NATO. They include a demand not to expand NATO eastward and to renounce military cooperation with post-Soviet countries. The European Union called the requirement of non-expansion of the alliance unacceptable.

The talks between the Russian Federation and the United States on security are scheduled for January 9-10 and will take place in Geneva. Also, on January 12, NATO talks will begin in Brussels, and on January 13, OSCE talks in Vienna.