Presidents Putin and Biden are conducting a conversation from the video

Presidents of the United States and Russia Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin talk about the video in these minutes. The conversation occurs against the background of a sharp exacerbation of tension around Ukraine. Western countries and Kyiv believe that Russia can prepare an armed invasion of this country.

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Putin is in Sochi, Biden - in the situational room of the White House in Washington. Information agencies reported the beginning of negotiations. They pass in the mode closed from the press.

The agenda of the negotiations - versions of the Kremlin and the White House

As stated in the White House message published on the eve of the Video , the leaders of the two countries during negotiations should discuss aspects of American -Russian relations, including strategic stability, cybersecurity and regional issues. The report said that Biden "will emphasize the concern of the United States in connection with the actions of the Russian military on the border with Ukraine."

The assistant to the President of Russia, Yuri Ushakov, claimed that Biden and Putin at the virtual summit would discuss the situation in Afghanistan, negotiations on the salvation of an atomic deal with Iran and American-Russian relations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that during the conversation they will also discuss bilateral relations and the implementation of the agreements reached at the June summit in Geneva. Also in the Kremlin they also mentioned Ukrainian problems.

According to Peskov, from the conversation "there is no need to expect any breakthroughs. This is a working conversation that is held in a very difficult period." According to the representative of the Kremlin, Moscow expects the fact that the conversation will be "mutually insistent", and the parties will take into account "the interests and concern of each other."

What preceded the conversation

The first reports of the concentration of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and in the annexed Crimea began to appear in the European and American press in late October - early November. It was about the fact that some of the Russian divisions after the studies "West 2021" did not return to the places of constant deployment, but remained at landfills near the western borders of Russia. In addition, a video appeared to the west of military equipment.

Official Kyiv for some time claimed that he did not fix any increase in the Russian group near the borders, but subsequently representatives of Ukraine also began to talk about a possible threat of invasion. Ukraine claims that Russia concentrated up to 100 thousand military with heavy equipment at borders.

The Western media, citing sources in intelligence, published schemes of possible invasion, which is allegedly included in the landing of sea landings and blows using armored vehicles, including from the territory of Belarus.

In early December, at a meeting of the Minister of Defense of NATO countries, and then at negotiations with the US Foreign Minister, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the United States in the event of a Russian offensive in Ukraine will enact the economic sanctions of "unprecedented force".

What the media write about possible sanctions

President Biden confirmed the preparation of possible response measures last week. “I collect something that I think the most comprehensive and significant set of initiatives, which very, very much prevent Mr. Putin from doing what, as people are afraid, is preparing to do,” he said.

On the eve of the video surge with Putin, some media, citing sources, published details about possible sanctions that the United States discuss with its allies. Among the measures under consideration are sanctions against people from the near circle of President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the largest Russian energy companies. The “shock measure” is also being considered, which, however, has already been heard repeatedly - since the spring of 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

On December 6, CNN reported the disconnection of Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system. According to Bloomberg, the USA and the European Union are considering the introduction of sanctions against the largest Russian banks and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIPI). In addition, sanctions may affect the conversion of the ruble. It is also considered an option to introduce restrictions for investors to buy Russian debt obligations in the secondary market.

Putin’s spokesman Peskov called reports of preparing sanctions "hysteria in the media."

Moscow denies aggressive plans and blames NATO

The Russian authorities deny any plans for the invasion of Ukraine. However, in recent weeks, from the lips of Russian representatives, including Vladimir Putin, a harsh rhetoric addressed Kyiv unprecedentedly. Moscow accuses the Ukrainian authorities of striving to solve the issue of separatism in the Donbass (with what Moscow, it unfavorable that it will help the separatists) and forcefully try to return the annexed Crimea. Putin himself, in turn, said that not only Ukraine’s entry into NATO, but also the placement of a certain military infrastructure of NATO on its territory is the “red lines” for Russia, and that Moscow intends to seek from the West that this would not happen. Biden told reporters that he did not recognize any "red lines".

Summit in Geneva

This year, Putin and Biden held a personal meeting - she took place in June in Geneva. According to its results, a joint statement was published on the inadmissibility of nuclear war. The parties also agreed to start negotiations on strategic stability and cybersecurity. Several rounds of such negotiations really took place, but the obvious results have not yet been brought.

The Biden administration has repeatedly emphasized that she was not striving for confrontation with Russia, but wants stable and predictable relations. At the same time, Russia is expected to comply with its obligations, including in relation to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

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