Biden, Ukraine leader discuss ways to resolve Russia crisis
By Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press, Matthew Lee, The Associated Press and Nomaan Merchant, The Associated Press
Thursday, Dec 9
President Joe Biden reached out to Ukraine’s leader Thursday as the United States moved to take a more direct role in diplomacy between that country and Russia, part of a broader effort to dissuade Russia from a destabilizing invasion of its western neighbor.
But any negotiations to peacefully resolve Europe’s tangled East-West rivalries will present minefields for the U.S. president.
Biden made his offer of American diplomacy during a two-hour online session with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, while repeating warnings of tough new sanctions and increased defensive aid to the region if Russia does invade. Biden proposed joining the Europeans in negotiations not just to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine but to address Putin’s larger strategic objections to NATO expanding its membership and building military capacity ever closer to Russia’s borders.
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2021/12/09/biden-ukraine-leader-discuss-ways-to-resolve-russia-crisis/
