Western Sanctions Against Moscow Could Cut Ties: Putin Warns Biden

jpnn.com, RUSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned US President Joe Biden by telephone that Western sanctions against Moscow would be a grave mistake and could cut ties between the two countries, the Kremlin said.

According to the Kremlin, namely the government of the Russian Federation, Russia is satisfied with the outcome of the telephone conversation.

Presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks were focused on the security guarantees Moscow wanted from the West regarding the deployment of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.

Biden seemed to agree that Moscow needed those guarantees and seemed serious about the negotiations although disagreements persisted and a possible compromise remained unclear, Ushakov said.

Russia has stoked Western concerns with the deployment of tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine in the past two months.

Moscow denies plans to attack Ukraine and says it is in its right to mobilize troops in its own country if it deems it necessary.

The United States has repeatedly warned Moscow that Washington would impose very heavy sanctions if Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine.

That threat, said Ushakov, was reiterated by Biden during talks with Putin on Thursday.