US President Biden To Conduct Video Call With Putin Amidst Growing Tension Over Ukraine Invasion

It comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US has proof that Russia was planning a "large-scale" strike on Ukraine.

Image: AFP

New Delhi: The White House has announced that US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will communicate by video conference on Tuesday, over the ongoing dispute in Ukraine.

It comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US has proof that Russia was planning a "large-scale" strike on Ukraine. However, he said that it was unclear if Putin had taken a final decision to invade.

Russia has denied any such goal, accusing Ukraine of carrying out its own force buildup.

"Biden will underscore US concerns with Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine and reaffirm the United States' support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement issued on Saturday. 

US President Joe Biden will hold a secure video call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on December 7. The leaders will discuss a range of topics in the US-Russia relationship, including strategic stability, cyber, & regional issues: White House

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/hRZWm6zU0h

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2021

According to Ukraine, Russia has placed armoured vehicles, electronic warfare gear, and 94,000 troops around their common border.

It is the highest concentration of Russian military on Russian soil since Russia took Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, citing intelligence data, claimed Moscow might launch a military operation around the end of January.

Russia's army advance has exacerbated already poor relations between Russia and the United States.

On Friday, Biden warned that he would make it "very, very difficult" for the Russian President to "go ahead and do what people are frightened he may do."

The United States and its European allies have contemplated slapping penalties on Russia if it takes forceful action.