Johnson says Putin should withdraw troops, Biden ready to talk to Putin ‘anytime and how’

The non-stop military exercises increase tensions with the West. “Everything we’re seeing now is that we’re about to invade,” Secretary of State Blinken said on CNN. “The United States and its allies have a huge set of sanctions ready if Russia really does invade,” Blinken said.

But Washington is not ruling out any diplomatic way out so far. “Until the tanks roll,” Blinken said. What’s more: Americans seem to be changing a gear (finally?). Because, according to Secretary Blinken, US President Joe Biden is ready to enter into talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin “at any time and in any form” if they can help prevent war. Blinken himself also plans to meet his Russian colleague Lavrov next week in Europe. Unless Russia invades Ukraine in the meantime.”

Putin also had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron this afternoon. The two men did not agree on who is now responsible for the tensions in eastern Ukraine, but they emphasized the importance of a diplomatic solution. The two countries’ foreign ministers – who will meet by phone tomorrow – are now said to be working on a potential “high-level” summit between Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to develop a new security architecture. Work, according to the Elysee.