Biden Proposes Summit in Phone Call with Putin... Tensions Over Ukraine

Calls for De-escalation at Ukraine Border Area
Putin Dismisses as "Internal Ukrainian Issue"
Agreed to Hold Summit in Third Country to Discuss Bilateral Issues

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden engaged in a tense exchange during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing bilateral issues including the bloodshed in Ukraine, and reportedly proposed holding a summit within a few months for more detailed discussions.

According to the White House on the 13th (local time), President Biden and President Putin held a phone call to discuss issues between the two countries, including the situation in Ukraine. This was the second call between the two leaders since Biden took office in January. In a statement released by the White House that day, it was explained that "President Biden emphasized the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, expressed concern over Russia's sudden military buildup in Crimea and along the Ukraine border, and called for de-escalation."

These remarks are interpreted as a warning amid rising military tensions due to ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine and reports of Russian troop reinforcements along Ukraine's eastern border. According to CNN, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to dispatch a fleet to the Black Sea soon to monitor Russian military movements around Ukraine and Crimea.

In response to President Biden's offensive stance on the Ukraine issue, President Putin reportedly denied any Russian involvement. According to TASS news agency, the Kremlin stated in a release about the call between the two leaders that "President Putin emphasized that the Ukraine issue is fundamentally an internal Ukrainian division problem, and that Russia is abiding by the peace agreement signed with Ukraine in 2015."

Additionally, the Kremlin conveyed that President Biden proposed a summit. The Kremlin said, "President Biden proposed to President Putin holding a summit within a few months to discuss various intertwined issues between the two countries, and President Putin accepted, stating he is ready to engage in dialogue at any time." The two leaders reportedly discussed a range of issues beyond Ukraine, including nuclear arms reduction, the Iran nuclear deal, Afghanistan, and climate change.