NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold their second call in a month Thursday amid geopolitical tension threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty.
A senior administration official said the two world leaders will discuss the parameters of an upcoming meeting scheduled for the week of Jan. 10, where the U.S., NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe permanent council (OSCE) will discuss a “range of security and strategic issues.”
US, RUSSIA SET TO HOLD ‘STRATEGIC SECURITY’ TALKS IN JANUARY
U.S. President Joe Biden holds virtual talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin amid Western fears that Moscow plans to attack Ukraine, during a secure video call from the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 7, 2021.
(Reuters)
“Russia has put its concerns on the table and we are prepared to discuss them,” the official said. “The United States and our allies and partners will put our concerns on the table and expect Russia to be prepared to discuss them as well.”
The talks are a part of the previously planned Strategic Security Dialogue that was agreed to in June, but comes as Russia has amassed roughly 100,000 troops along its shared border with Ukraine.
Putin, who requested the Thursday call, has said he will need “guarantees” from the West that NATO will not allow former Soviet nations, like Ukraine, membership – citing alleged security concerns of an expanded NATO presence surrounding Russia.
It is unclear why the Russian leader requested the call ahead of the talks in two weeks. But the Biden administration has repeatedly said it will follow the principle of “nothing about them without them” – suggesting Biden will be unwilling to discuss NATO plans without European leaders present.
Neither the U.S. nor NATO have said how they will respond to Putin’s demands, but have threatened severe repercussions should Russia invade Ukraine.
The…
Source : foxnews
