US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a summit. (File)
Paris, Washington DC:
US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to hold a summit, which can only happen if Moscow does not invade Ukraine, the French president announced on Monday.
The summit proposed by France’s Emmanuel Macron will be open to stakeholders to discuss “strategic stability and security in Europe,” the statement from Elysee said, adding that the Preparations will begin between Russia and the US on Thursday.
The statement said the French President spoke with Biden and Putin and proposed a summit between them and subsequent interactions with “appropriate stakeholders” to discuss security and strategic stability. in Europe.
“President Biden and Putin have both accepted the principle of such a summit,” the statement said.
It added that the content for the summit will be prepared by Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their meeting on Thursday.
The statement added that the summit can only take place on the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine. The French president said he would work with all parties involved.
Following the French announcement, the White House confirmed that Biden had agreed in principle to the meeting on the condition that Moscow did not invade Ukraine.
US press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement “committed to pursuing diplomacy until an invasion begins”. “In principle, President Biden has accepted a meeting with President Putin … if an invasion does not happen.”
She added: “We are also ready to cause rapid and severe consequences if Russia chooses to go to war. And for now, Russia appears to be continuing to prepare for a full-scale attack on Ukraine.”
