For more than a month, Russia’s has massive troop deployment near the Ukraine border and it has raised the geopolitical temperature with the United States warning of severe consequences if Moscow carries out any military action in Ukraine. President Joe Biden and his counterpart President Putin have agreed in principle to the summit which was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron. The white house has officially confirmed President Biden’s agreement yet it is being highly cautious. The summit which comes at the time when the tension between the two countries is at an all-time high due to the circumstances at the Ukraine border is set on only one condition. The condition is that the summit will be held only if Moscow does not invade Ukraine which France announced on Monday following a frantic new round of diplomacy to avert an all-out war. The summit is likely to be arranged by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the details of it will be finalized during a meeting which is scheduled on the 24th of this month.
After the announcement of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron held a series of the phone call with the leaders from across the Atlantic. While the summit is offering hope for the settlement of the issue and bringing peace and stability, Belarus announced that Russia will be extending its military drill which is due to end on Sunday. Also, the satellite images display the advancement of the military near the Ukraine border making the situation more tough.
Elysee Palace, on Monday, declared that the summit is to be based on security and strategic stability in Europe. “Presidents Biden and Putin have both accepted the principle of such a summit,” the statement said, stressing that such a meeting would be impossible if Russia invaded Ukraine as Western nations fear is its intention.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that “President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin … if an invasion hasn’t happened.” Further stating, “We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.”
