Biden warns Putin of 'consequences' if Russia invades Ukraine

U.S. President JoeBiden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of "consequences"if he were to invade Ukraine,in a virtual meeting on Tuesday according to U.S. security officials.

"What President Biden did today was lay out very clearly, the consequences if[Putin] chooses to move ahead. He also laid out an alternative path," U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in a briefing following the meeting.

Beyond the agreement to hold further discussions, there wasno sign of any narrowing of positions in Moscow's readout of theconversation, which followed weeks of tension over the massingof Russian troops on the border with Ukraine.

A Kremlin statement said Putin repeated Moscow's accusationthat Ukraine was behaving provocatively and taking a"destructive line" aimed at dismantling agreements from 2014 and2015 that were designed to end a war with Russian-backed separatists.

The Kremlin said Putinpresented Biden with a demand for legallybinding security guarantees that would rule out the expansion ofNATO. Putinsaid NATO was bolstering its military potential near Russia'sborders and "making dangerous attempts to conquer Ukrainianterritory," the Kremlin said in a statement.

Russia still sending tanks,snipers,Ukraine officials say

The two leaders held two hours of talks aboutUkraine and other disputes on Tuesday amidWestern fears that Moscow is poised to invade its southernneighbour.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed near the Ukrainian border.

WATCH |Biden, Putin exchange awkward greetings:

Biden, Putin exchange awkward greetings

3 years ago

Duration 0:54

In Russian pool footage released on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin began virtual talks with an awkward exchange of Biden saying, "Good to see you," and Putin replying, "I greet you Mr. President."

Just hours before Biden and Putin's call got underway, Ukrainian officials charged that Russia was continuing to escalate the crisis by sending tanks and snipers to war-torn eastern Ukraine to "provoke return fire."

The Kremlin hasn't commented on those specific allegations, but it hasdenied harbouring anintentionto attack Ukraine and said the troop posture is defensive.

But Moscow has voiced rising vexation over Western militaryaid to Ukraine, a fellow former Soviet republic that has tiltedtowardthe West since a popular revolt toppled a pro-Russianpresident in 2014.

Russia has likewise questioned Ukrainian intentions and saidit wants guarantees that Kyiv will not use force to try toretake territory lost in 2014 to Russia-backed separatists, ascenario Ukraine has ruled out.

The U.S.has urged Russia and Ukraineto return to a set of agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 and designed to end a separatist war by Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.

If Russia does invade Ukraine,Biden's administration could seek to bolsterNATO's eastern flank by repositioning U.S. troops already inEurope rather than sending in new ones from elsewhere, a U.S.defence official told Reuters on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser,told reporters that the U.S.would fortify NATOallies in places like the Baltic states with additionalcapabilities to reassure them in the event of a Russian invasionof Ukraine. He also said the United States, which already providesUkraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles and other equipment,could send additional defensive assistance to Kyiv.

"It's hard to expect any sudden breakthroughs, but thepresidents demonstrated their willingness to continue practicalwork and begin discussing sensitive issues that seriouslyconcern Moscow," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after thetalks.

Putin and Biden underlined the need to try to normalizetheir countries' troubled relations and to continue co-operating on issues of mutual interest such as cyber security, Ushakovsaid.

Putin had made what he called a radical proposal to nullifyall the restrictions on their respective diplomatic missions, somethinghe said could potentially help assuage tensionsbetween Moscow and Washington.

"This could be a way to co-operate in other areas," Ushakovsaid.

Both countries have limited the number of staff working attheir respective embassies in a series of tit-for-tat moves thathave made it hard for the U.S. embassy in Moscow in particular.

U.S.considers economic sanctions

U.S. officials said before the video conference that Bidenwould tell Putin that Russia and its banks could be hit with thetoughest economic sanctions yet if it attacks Ukraine.

They said sanctions could targetRussia's biggest banks and Moscow's ability to convert roublesinto dollars and other currencies.

A separate source familiar with the situation said targetingPutin's inner circle has been discussed, but no decision has beenmade.

CNN reported sanctions could include the extreme step ofdisconnecting Russia from the SWIFT international payment systemused by banks around the world.

Later on Tuesday, U.S. officials told members of Congress they have anunderstanding with Germany about shutting down the Nord Stream 2pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine, a senior congressional aidesaid.

"If President Putin moves on Ukraine, our expectation isthat the pipeline will be suspended," Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told the Senate foreign relations committee.

WATCH | Biden warns Putin there will be 'consequences' if Moscowinvades Ukraine:

Biden threatens Putin with sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine

3 years ago

Duration 2:05

In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Joe Biden joined European allies in threatening economic sanctions if Russia launches military action against Ukraine.

German Gref, chief executive of Russia's top bank,Sberbank, on Tuesday calledpotentialsanctions against Russia's biggest banks"nonsense" and said they would be "impossible to execute."

Ahead of his first direct talks withPutinsince July,Bidenconsulted with European allies France, Germany, Italy and Britainon Monday to discuss plans for sanctionsandseek a strong allied stance in support of Ukraine's territorial integrityandsovereignty.

They called on Russia to de-escalate tensionsandreturn to diplomacyandsaid their teams will stay in close touch, including in consultation with NATO alliesandEU partners, on a "co-ordinatedandcomprehensive approach," the White House said.

International tensions have risen steadily over Ukraineandthe Black Sea region. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday it had scrambled fighter jets to escort two U.S. military reconnaissance planes over the Black Sea.