Joe Biden will highlight US concerns with Russian military activities at border: officials (File)
Moscow:
The Kremlin said the day before talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden that Moscow does not expect a “breakthrough”, as tensions rise over Ukraine.
The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues on Tuesday evening, Russia time via secure video link, after weeks of Washington accusing Moscow of planning an invasion of Soviet-era Ukraine.
“It is difficult to expect breakthroughs from the negotiations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“So let’s at least hope that the leaders will be able to convey their concerns to each other,” he said.
“Although our bilateral relations are still in a very sad state, there is a revival, dialogue is starting in a number of areas.”
Washington and Kiev say Russia has sent tens of thousands of troops close to Ukraine’s border and could launch an invasion next month.
Ahead of Tuesday’s talks, the White House said Biden would highlight Washington’s concerns with Russia’s military activities on the border.
Russia has denied the allegations and said it is concerned about what it says is a total mobilization of half of Ukraine’s army near two regions in the east of the country held by pro-Moscow separatists. .
Kiev and its Western allies accuse Moscow of sending weapons and troops to support the rebels, who seized territory in 2014 shortly after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
The long smoldering conflict has claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people.
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