Donald Trump had a more intimate relationship with Putin than his White House counterpart.
Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, said that Vladimir Putin does not fear any warnings or threats from Joe Biden. The two leaders had spoken for approximately two hours about the increasingly tensionful situation in Ukraine.
Biden and Putin met by videochat to talk about Russia’s deployment of troops along its borders with Ukraine. Officials from Kyiv have asked the United States to send more weapons in fear of an invasion.
Putin was told by the president that any attempt to attack former Soviet satellite states’ sovereignty would result in real consequences, including severe sanctions.
Trump had a much warmer relationship than Biden with Putin. He mocked Biden’s assertiveness and pointed out the highly-criticized US withdrawal from Afghanistan in august.
Putin sees our sad surrender in Afghanistan. It has left behind dead Soldiers and American citizens. Then he looks at Biden. He doesn’t seem worried. Trump made the statement through his Save America PAC.
Putin had praised Trump earlier in the year when he spoke with NBC.
In October, the Russian leader thanked Biden for withdrawing from Afghanistan in spite of bipartisan criticisms by leaders and lawmakers at home.
But on Tuesday morning, the president was seen waving to Putin and chuckling during what was supposed to be a tense video call.
Trump released a statement Tuesday afternoon stating that Putin was not worried about Biden.
Images of the nearly two-hour meeting among world leaders were released by the Kremlin
Biden waved to Putin, and said that he hoped they could meet up in person again.
However, the White House claimed that Biden spoke tough to Russian counterparts during their two hour conversation. They made clear that any invading Ukraine would be met by’strong’ economic sanctions as well as ‘other actions’
During the video chat, Biden ‘voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the US and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation,’ the White House said in a readout of the call.
‘President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,’ the White House noted. Follow-up conversations will take place at the staff level.
Russian news agencies published video footage of the initial minutes of the phone call.
Biden appears to be having technical issues, possibly forgetting how to turn on his microphone.
Putin addressed Biden in Russian, “Greetings Mr. President,”
The other side was silent, and Biden could be seen looking forward flipping a switch.
Biden suddenly said: “There you are,”
The White House published its photo from the conversation after the call ended with Putin
He said, “Hello,” and he waved to his Russian counterpart, laughing. It’s nice to see you back.
Biden could also be heard saying to Putin, during a brief clip from their chat: “We didn’t get the chance to see each other at G20. It’s my hope that the next time they meet, we can do it in person.
According to the White House, the call began at 10:07 AM ET. The conversation was not accessible to the American media. The White House stated that the conversation ended at 12:08 p.m.
The White House published a picture of Biden from the White House Situation Room after the call was over.
‘.The White House tweeted that President Putin and @POTUS had a video conference today. They discussed a variety of issues in US-Russia relations, including concerns over Russian military actions on Ukraine’s border, cyber security, as well as regional issues.
Biden can be seen in the White House photo looking unmaskless as he sits at the table’s head with a masked Secretary Of State Anthony Blinken (left) and Jake Sullivan (right).
Putin answered the phone from Sochi’s Black Sea resort. It’s the fourth direct conversation between the two leaders this year, following two calls and one summit in Geneva.
According to the White House, Biden will meet with President Emmanuel Macron, Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Mario Minister Draghi, Italy and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after the conversation with Putin.
Sullivan also appeared at the White House briefing area and was directly asked if the White House was considering sending additional troops to Afghanistan.
Sullivan said that if Russia tries to escalate its military presence in Ukraine, it is expected that the U.S. expects that Baltic allies such as Poland, Romania, and other nations, will be more worried about their own security.
‘They will be seeking, we expect, additional capabilities and potentially additional deployments and the United States will be looking to respond positively to those things in the event that there is a further incursion into Ukraine,’ Sullivan answered.
Sullivan also made clear that the U.S. planned to respond more forcefully than the Obama administration did in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
Sullivan stated to reporters that he would look into President Putin’s eyes, and let him know, just as President Biden did in 2014. He told President Putin, things we had not done in 2014, we’re ready for now.
Sullivan stated, “In terms specifics, it would be preferable to communicate this directly to Russians. To not negotiate in public and not telegraph any punches. “But, we’re laying out to the Russian in detail the type of measures we’re planning.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has warned of a ‘bloody massacre’ and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Europe if Russia decides to invade Kiev.
Satellite images show increasing numbers of Russian troops massing on the border of Ukraine – as many as 175,000 according to US analysts.
Oleksiy Reznikov (Ukraine Defense Minister) told CNN there would be an invasion by Russia and that it would lead to a massacre. He also warned that Russian guys will return in coffins.