Biden Expected to Emphasize Concerns Over Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Putin Likely to Insist on Guaranteeing NATO's Non-Expansion
[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a virtual summit on the 7th (local time).
With concerns rising over the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine, attention is focused on the agenda of the summit between the two leaders.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the plan for the summit in a statement on the 4th. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also announced the virtual summit schedule on the 7th through Russian media such as Interfax.
The discussion is expected to focus intensively on the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine.
In the statement, Psaki said, "President Biden will emphasize the United States' concerns about Russia's military activities along the Ukrainian border" and "will reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The U.S. and Europe have been closely monitoring the movement of Russian troops gathering near the Ukrainian border, warning of the possibility that President Putin might invade Ukraine again following the forced annexation of Crimea in 2014.
In particular, The Washington Post obtained intelligence documents reporting that Russia plans to mobilize 175,000 troops to invade Ukraine early next year.
President Putin is expected to raise the issue of guarantees to prohibit NATO's further eastward expansion during this summit.
Putin's foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov said the day before that legal guarantees are urgently needed to prevent NATO's expansion into former Soviet territories and the deployment of weapon systems in Russia's neighboring countries, including Ukraine, and that this issue will be discussed at the U.S.-Russia virtual summit.
Besides the situation in Ukraine, various bilateral issues including nuclear arms reduction are expected to be on the summit table.
Psaki stated in the announcement, "The two leaders will discuss a range of topics in U.S.-Russia relations, including strategic stability, cyber issues, and regional matters."
President Biden met President Putin in Switzerland last June for their first summit since Biden took office. The Biden administration has focused its foreign strategy on competition with China while maintaining pressure on Russia.
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