By John Ikani
President Joe Biden on Tuesday held a two-hour-long video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and warned him that if he decides to invade Ukraine, the United States and European allies are ready to make Moscow pay.
It’s estimated that nearly 100,000 Russian troops have been amassed at Russia’s border with Ukraine, prompting fears that Russia is preparing to launch a military invasion — as it did in 2014, when it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Putin responded to the warning with a demand for reliable, legally binding guarantees against NATO expansion eastward and complained about NATO attempts to “develop” Ukrainian territory,” the Kremlin said.
No breakthroughs were reported but both sides agreed to continue communications, a development that could lower global tensions.
The White House said Biden did not make any guarantees to limit NATO expansion with regard to Ukraine.
“I will tell you clearly and directly he made no such commitments or concessions. He stands by the proposition that countries should be able to freely choose who they associate with,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters.
“Things we did not do in 2014 we are prepared to do now,” Sullivan told reporters after the call, referring to the reaction to Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
In case of an attack, the United States would be looking to respond positively if Baltic allies ask for additional U.S. “capabilities” or “deployments,” he said.
The United States could also target Russia’s biggest banks and Moscow’s ability to convert roubles into dollars and other currencies, one official said.
In 2014, Washington focused mainly on defensive, non-lethal aid following Russia’s annexation of Crimea out of fear it would escalate the crisis.
The Kremlin has denied harbouring any intention to attack Ukraine and has said a troop build-up on its southern border is defensive, but neighbouring nations are sounding alarms.
After his call with Putin, Biden also spoke with the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The president also plans to brief congressional leaders and speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.
