Putin told Biden in their call that sanctions over Ukraine "could lead to a complete breakdown in ties between our countries," a Kremlin aide said.
Summary
- Putin told Biden that sanctions over Ukraine could mean a total rupture in US-Russia relations.
- Biden urged Putin to ease tensions but said the US would respond if Russia invades.
- The Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after the call that Putin told Biden that sanctions “could lead to a complete breakdown in ties between our countries,” Reuters reported.
- White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Biden told Putin that Russia needed to “de-escalate tensions with Ukraine.”
- “President Biden reiterated that substantive progress in these dialogues can occur only in an environment of de-escalation,” she said.