Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations via videoconference. © Sputnik / Alexey Druzhinin
* Biden, facing his first major foreign policy test against an experienced foe, invited Putin 'to de-escalate tensions' and proposed a summit 'in the coming months', without indicating the Russian president's response
* The Kremlin later added that the phone call had taken place at Washington's request, keen to make it appear that Biden had come crawling to his adversary
* But Moscow did confirm that shortly after the call with Washington, Putin called the premier of Finland where previous high level talks have been hosted between the nuclear-armed powers
* Biden's call to Putin took place hours after Russia's deputy foreign minister warned Washington to keep its warships away from the Black Sea 'for their own good', saying it risked turning the region into a 'powder keg'
* Comes after Russia warned US against deploying two warships into the Black Sea 'for their own good'
* Destroyers USS Donald Cook and USS Roosevelt are expected to arrive in Black Sea tomorrow and Thursday
Vladimir Putin yesterday snubbed Joe Biden's request to hold a summit amid soaring tensions over Russia's massive build-up of troops at the Ukrainian border.
The US President, facing his first major foreign policy test against an experienced foe, invited Putin 'to de-escalate tensions' and proposed a summit 'in the coming months,' the White House said.
The Kremlin declined to respond to the proposal and went on to insist that the phone call had taken place at Washington's request, keen to make it appear that Biden had come crawling to his adversary.
Read more ....
Update #1: Kremlin says Biden-Putin summit contingent on US behavior (The Hill)
Update #2: Kremlin to Washington: Putin-Biden summit depends on U.S. behaviour (Reuters)
Update #3: Putin-Biden summit proposal being considered, Kremlin says (TASS)
WNU Editor: There will be a meeting between the two one day. But from I am hearing and reading from Russia, the Kremlin does not see anything worthwhile coming out from such a summit at this point of time.
They see such a summit being more of process and image rather than substance.
And if this happens, there will definitely be no summit in the short term .... US poised to impose anti-Russian sanctions over cyberattacks, election meddling - media (TASS). More here .... US is expected to sanction Russia and expel Russian officials in response to hacks and election interference (CNN).
