Biden to hold another call with Putin today

U.S. President Joe Biden will hold another phone call with Vladimir Putin today at the request of the Russian side, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The two leaders will "discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia," National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement.

"The Biden Administration continues to engage in extensive diplomacy with our European Allies and partners, consulting and coordinating on a common approach in response to Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine," the White House said.

Moscow "has put its concerns on the table and we are prepared to discuss them" - a Senior Biden Administration Official told reporters on a phone briefing, "The United States and our allies and partners will put our concerns on the table and expect Russia to be prepared to discuss them as well. "

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to a State Department readout of that call, “the two discussed efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine and upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia.”  Blinken also spoke with French, German, and UK Foreign Ministers ahead of today's call. "They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” according to the State Department.

Officials from Washington and Moscow are scheduled to speak on Jan. 10 regarding Moscow's security demands, which were laid out earlier this month.

That meeting will  be followed by a Jan. 12 dialogue of the NATO-Russia council and a Jan. 13 discussion of the OSCE Permanent Council. Biden and Putin are not expected to directly participate in those talks, which will be led by the State Department and include representatives from the National Security Council and Department of Defense, the Senior Administration Official said.

Washington is "prepared" to provide Ukraine with further assistance to defend its territory and respond to a potential Russian occupation should a further invasion proceed in the coming weeks. Yet, the official said, President Biden will make clear that there is a diplomatic path to de-escalating tensions in the region if Putin "is interested in taking it."

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.