The US administration warned Vladimir Putin of Russia that invading Ukraine would result in “swift and severe” costs to Russia and insisted on a diplomatic approach to the issue.
Earlier, the one-hour phone call came hours after the State Department demanded all but a core team of US diplomats to leave the embassy in Kyiv midst of concerns of an emerging Russian attack.
“We are actively working to reach a diplomatic solution to de-escalate the crisis. Over the weekend, as you all know, the President spoke with President Putin, and we remain engaged with the Russian government in full coordination with our allies and partners,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
“However, we are clear-eyed about the prospects of that, given the steps Russia is taking on the ground,” she said, as President Joe Biden reached out to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the situation. The headmen talked over their latest diplomatic engagements with Ukraine and Russia, confirmed the White House in a readout.
Further, they analysed proceeding diplomatic and dissuading efforts in response to Russia’s ongoing military build-up on Ukraine’s border and reiterated their stand for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.
“They talked over efforts to strengthen the defensive posture on NATO’s eastern flank and underscored the ongoing close coordination among allies and partner, including on readiness to agitate severe repercussions on Russia should it choose further military escalations,” the White House affirmed.
“President Biden has made it very clear on his call with Putin this weekend that if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia,” Karine added.
Biden reaffirmed that a further Russian attack of Ukraine would yield widespread human suffering and devastate Russia’s standing, she said. At a separate news conference, Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is going to travel to Belgium, Poland, and Lithuania. He will meet with allied defence ministers and NATO leaders to discuss Russia’s military build-up in and around Ukraine.
