Russia-Ukraine crisis: Biden and Putin agree to meet ‘on condition’

US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed ‘in principle’ to hold a summit “to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe”, French presidency announced Monday.

The statement by Elysee Palace added that the summit “can only be held at the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine”. It follows phone conversations French President Emmanuel Macron had with both Biden and Putin respectively. 

Preparations for the discussion between Moscow and the US will start on Thursday, and will be led by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Palace announced. 

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According to the statement, Macron had proposed the summit to expand the conversation to “relevant stakeholders” to address the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the potential threat of a Russian invasion. 

“Presidents Biden and Putin have both accepted the principle of such a summit,” the statement said, according to a report by news agency AFP. 

The US is “committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins,” US press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin … if an invasion hasn’t happened.”

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“We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon,” she added, reported AFP.

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Meanwhile, the US has received intelligence that orders have already been sent to Russian commanders, instructing them to proceed with attacking Ukraine, as per CNN. The reports of such intelligence come from two US officials and one source familiar with US intelligence, the outlet reported.