Joe Biden “accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin” on the condition that in the meantime “there has not been an invasion” of Ukraine. This was reported by White House spokesman Jen Psaki after the Elysée announcement of a summit between the American and Russian leaders. The office of President Emmanuel Macron had in fact made it known that both leaders accepted the French proposal to hold a summit on “security and strategic stability in Europe”.
White House spokesman Jen Psaki said the administration was clear that the United States is “committed to pursuing diplomacy until the time of the invasion.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet in Europe on Thursday, provided that nothing happens in the meantime. Psaki added that the US is also ready to impose quick and serious consequences should Russia choose war instead. But “at the moment Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon,” Psaki added.