The presidents of the United States and Russia, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, will talk this Thursday (30), for the second time, to address the crisis in Ukraine, illustrating their willingness to dialogue after months of aggressive rhetoric and threats.
– ‘Very aggressive rhetoric’ –
“I clearly told President Putin that, contrary to what my predecessor did [Donald Trump], the time when the United States submitted to the aggressions of Russia […] it’s over,” said Joe Biden on February 4, two weeks after he took office.
Biden cited Russian interference in American elections, cyber attacks and “the poisoning of citizens” in reference to opponent Alexei Navalny. The next day, the Kremlin deplored “the very aggressive and unconstructive rhetoric” of the new American president.
– Putin ‘killer’ –
In a televised interview on March 17, Biden caused the first diplomatic crisis of his term.
“Do you believe that [Vladimir Putin] is he a murderer?” asked the journalist. “Yes, I believe that,” replied the American president, without specifying whether he was referring to what happened with Navalny. “They will soon see that he will pay dearly,” he added.
Asked about Russian electoral interference in 2016 and 2020, Biden repeated that Putin “would face the consequences.” Russia called its ambassador to the US for consultations, and a month later the US ambassador to Moscow returned to Washington.
– ‘Much more is who tells me’ –
Referring to Biden’s statements, Putin replied: “I’m told a lot more! It’s not just a childish expression, a joke […], we always see our own characteristics in the other”, stated The Russian leader.
At the time, Putin proposed holding a live “debate” between himself and Biden: “It would be of interest to the Russian people, the American people and many other countries,” he said.
Washington’s response was silence.
– ‘It’s time for de-escalation’ –
On April 15, Joe Biden approved a series of severe economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia, in addition to measures taken in March by the Navalny affair.
However, shortly thereafter, he decided that “the time for de-escalation” had arrived, and proposed a bilateral summit in the middle of the year “in Europe”.
– Three and a half hours with Putin –
On June 16, after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting in Geneva (Switzerland), the two presidents took stock of the talks, with Biden stressing the “positive” tone, while Putin called them “constructive” and without “any animosity” .
“It was important that we got to know each other in person,” said the American leader. Putin, for his part, announced the return of the ambassadors to their respective posts.
– Russian cyber attacks –
On July 9, Biden spoke by phone with the Russian president to ask him to take action against a wave of “ransomware” attacks against American companies, blamed on Russian hackers.
The discussion “was good, I’m optimistic,” said the American president.
Shortly thereafter, however, Putin pointed out that, despite Russia’s willingness to help in the fight against cybercriminals, it had not received any requests in recent months “for mutual aid from the Americans.”
– ‘His tundra is burning, but he is silent’ –
On October 31, at the height of the G20 meeting, Joe Biden criticized Vladimir Putin’s absence. “Nothing can replace face-to-face negotiations for global cooperation.”
The charge was repeated later, at COP 26 in Glasgow: “Your tundra is burning. He faces very serious climate problems, but he is silent.”
“The tundra is really burning. But let us not forget that forests are also burning in California, Turkey and other parts of the world,” replied the Kremlin.
– The Ukrainian knot –
“Concerned” by the deployment of 100,000 Russian soldiers on the Ukrainian border, Biden announced in late November a new meeting with President Putin.
Denying any invasion plans, Russia guarantees that its intention is to strengthen the position of the Armed Forces in response to the “increasing activity” of NATO at the borders.
In a phone conversation on Dec. 7, Biden threatened to impose “strong economic sanctions” if Putin invaded Ukraine.
The Russian president, for his part, demanded – but without success – guarantees on the freeze on NATO expansion.
On Dec. 17, Moscow submitted treaty proposals to drastically limit US and NATO influence around its borders, texts Washington said it was ready to discuss, in consultation with Europeans.
On the 21st, Putin raised the tone and promised “military and technical” retaliation in case of Western threats, while last Tuesday (28th), Washington condemned the dissolution of the NGO Memorial in Russia, one of the pillars of the defense of human rights in the country.
Today, the two leaders are expected to speak again by phone about Ukraine, a prelude to the January 10 security talks in Europe.
Despite the current tension, Biden will propose a “diplomatic route” out of the crisis, according to the White House.
Putin, for his part, says he is “convinced” that an “effective” dialogue is possible with his American counterpart.
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