President Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back troops from its border with Ukraine and floated an in-person summit in the coming months during a Tuesday phone call — as a Russian foreign minister warned US Navy warships chugging toward the Black Sea to turn back “for their own good.”
The call, a readout of which was released by the White House, came less than a month after Biden branded Putin a “killer” who would “pay a price” for alleged Russian interference in US elections.
During Tuesday’s call, Biden “made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to Russia’s actions, such as cyber intrusions and election interference,” according to a White House readout.
The commander-in-chief also “emphasized the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and “voiced our concerns over the sudden Russian military build-up in Crimea and on Ukraine’s borders, calling on Russia to de-escalate tensions.”
Amid Russia’s recent massing of troops on the Ukraine border, the US Navy has deployed two warships to the Black Sea, in what the Pentagon says is a routine exercise.
To help lower the temperature, Biden suggested a possible summit in the coming months in a neutral third country.
The push for peace came hours after Kremlin Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Washington to turn back two US Navy warships en route to the Black Sea and the area around Crimea.
“The United States is our adversary and does everything it can to undermine Russia’s position on the world stage,” Ryabkov said Tuesday, according to Russian media outlets. “We do not see any other elements in their approach. Those are our conclusions.
“We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast,” he continued. “It will be for their own good.”
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, and now uses it as a strategic military position and base for its Black Sea naval fleet.
The Kremlin has recently deployed additional ground forces to its border with eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been locked in a bloody, years-long battle with Ukrainian government troops.
The Pentagon has declined to discuss its reasons for moving firepower into the region, but noted that the Navy regularly patrols the Black Sea.
But Ryabkov remained unconvinced.
“There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores, this is purely a provocative action,” he was quoted as saying in Russian media. “Provocative in the direct sense of the word: They are testing our strength, playing on our nerves. They will not succeed.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, however, said during a briefing Tuesday that the US’ goal is de-escalation.
“Our approach to our relationship with Russia is one where we certainly expect the relationship to remain a challenge,” she said. “We expect there will be continued difficult conversations. We are prepared to confront those.
“But our goal is to have a relationship with Russia that is predictable and stable.”
Part of that effort is finding common ground with the Kremlin, Psaki said.
“Having a conversation or a dialogue … the purpose of that is to, of course, be honest and candid where there are areas where we disagree and have concerns, but also work together on areas where there is mutual interest,” said Psaki, citing as an example cooperation to broker a new nuclear arms deal with Iran.
Meanwhile Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin committed to deploying an additional 500 troops to Germany, according to Politico.
“In keeping with my pledge to consult with allies and partners today, I briefed [German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer] on our intention to permanently station approximately 500 additional U.S. personnel in the Wiesbaden area as early as this fall,” Austin reportedly said during a Tuesday visit to Berlin.
Earlier this year, Biden announced that his administration would reverse a decision by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, to withdraw up to 12,000 US troops from Germany.
With Post wires
