Biden and Putin will speak via videoconference today. Biden will tell Putin to expect harsh economic consequences if they invade Ukraine.
Summary
Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will be meeting via video talk today, with Biden expected to threaten his Russian counterpart with “harsh economic consequences” if it invades Ukraine.
- European allies are working with the United States to coordinate possible sanctions in the event of a military conflict, with one diplomat noting the United States does not want use of American military assets to be the only option.
- The expansion of NATO, and the possible invitation for Ukraine to join, is at the forefront of Moscow’s mind as the alliance moved into Eastern Europe.
- The Russian government has denied the notion that they are preparing to invade Ukraine, saying they do “not expect any breakthroughs” in the talk between Biden and Putin.
- Questions on how to deal with Russia have reached Congress as Republicans and Democrats in the Senate are pushing Biden to take a tougher stance with Putin.
- CNN highlighted the international coordination in the lead-up to the call, with Biden speaking with a host of European heads of state and the State Department talking to the president of Ukraine before Biden’s call with Putin.
- The Washington Post’s Adam Taylor writes that many in Moscow are unconcerned about sanctions in the event they invade Ukraine, saying they are “already sanctioned to the hilt.”
- The Daily Beast highlighted the alarming rhetoric and propaganda coming from Russian state media, saying the strained relationship and inability of the two nations to “recognize each other’s red lines” will lead to the “disintegration of Europe.”
- Fox News reported on foreign policy analysts’ hope that the call could actually produce positive results by providing Putin enough of a threat to prevent a military conflict in Ukraine.
- Newsmax reported on comments from Republican Sen. Marco Rubio who urged Biden to forcefully reiterate “what the costs are of that sort of invasion”, warning that a conflict in Ukraine “is a potential crisis for NATO.”
- The Daily Wire rehashed previously reported information from intelligence analysts saying Putin wants to take advantage of the perceived “weakness” of President Biden.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
