According to a presidential adviser, the discussions took place amid unparalleled ‘hysteria’ in the United States.
Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy adviser, shared specifics of the phone discussion between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Joe Biden.
Details were released just after the phone conversations ended on Saturday evening.
After a call between President Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday produced no breakthrough, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will take his turn try to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine with meetings in Kyiv and Moscow.https://t.co/HaplxD7qf5
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 13, 2022
At the Request of the United States
When speaking to reporters at a press briefing, Ushakov stated the meetings convened at the request of the United States, which was concerned about what they saw to be an oncoming Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The official went on to say the Putin-Biden meetings were initially slated to take place on Monday morning.
Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted Western attempts to militarize and pump Ukraine with modern weapons. According to Ushakov, such measures effectively push Kyiv to use force to try to end the situation in the country’s eastern region.
“It is being built as a result of the invasion charges,” he continued, “and conditions are being set for possible aggressive operations by Ukrainian military forces.”
The Russian president had spoken to Biden about the destructive policies implemented by Ukrainian officials to sabotage the Minsk Accord.
This major 2015 multinational agreement underlined a roadmap out of the dispute in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv forces are battling the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
According to Ushakov, Russia’s president highlighted that the Western nations are not exerting enough pressure on Kyiv to comply with the agreement.
Sanctions Were Not the Main Point
The imposition of prospective anti-Russian sanctions in response to the situation in Ukraine was addressed by the president of the United States.
However, Ushakov says the talks between Putin and Biden were productive and “businesslike,” though the sanctions discussion was not the main point.
“President Joe Biden suggested the possibility of anti-Russian penalties, which was expected given the difficult situation in Ukraine.”
As a result of their lengthy talk, he added, “this subject did not dominate the discussion with President Putin,” noting the two leaders have decided to continue their discussions in the future.
Biden and Putin had a phone call? Was it just Biden mumbling and Putin laughing at him for 5 minutes?
— Tim Young 🚛 (@TimRunsHisMouth) February 13, 2022
The West’s top leaders and media have frequently accused Moscow of attempting to attack Ukraine over the past few months, with the reportedly approaching invasion being referred to as “imminent.”
On the other hand, such allegations have never been backed up by any reliable evidence. Russia, for its part, is denying that it has plans in the works to strike Ukraine.
In the most recent round of allegations, which surfaced earlier on Saturday, various media sites quoted unnamed sources who stated Moscow might launch an attack on Kyiv the following Wednesday.
Moscow has categorically disputed the charges, saying it has no intention of striking Ukraine or any other country in the world.
