Kremlin pours cold water on summit plan for Biden, Putin on UkraineBy Yaron Steinbuch
February 21, 2022
Russia struck down potential plans for a meeting between President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin — warning Monday it is too early to discuss holding a summit on the Ukraine crisis.
“It’s premature to talk about any specific plans for organizing any kind of summits,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“There is an understanding that dialogue should be continued at the level of foreign ministers,” he said, adding that there are “no concrete plans in place” for a presidential summit.
“If necessary, of course, the Russian and American presidents can decide to hold a telephone call or connect via other methods,” Peskov said. “A meeting is possible if the heads of state consider it appropriate.”
Moscow’s resistance comes just hours after Washington extended an olive branch, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki saying in a statement Sunday night that President Biden had “accepted in principle” a meeting with the Russian strongman.
Psaki, who reiterated the belief that Russia is on the brink of launching an attack, added: “We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war.”
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2022/02/21/kremlin-pours-cold-water-on-summit-plan-for-biden-putin-on-ukraine/
