Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin start video conference amid heightened tensions over Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has started a 'secure' virtual call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday where two are expected to discuss a range of topics surrounding bilateral issues including Ukraine, Iran, and NATO's eastward expansion. 

talks are t to be broadcast live and Kremlin had previously said that Putin did t plan on making any statements following talks. Additionally, White House press secretary Jen Psaki had also said that she would brief media at least four hours after beginning of Putin-Biden meeting. talks between both leaders came amid heightened tensions between US-Russia especially as officials alerted that Moscow is planning an invasion into Ukraine. It is also reported that Biden would warn Putin over Russia's possible invasion into Ukraine.

Earlier on Tuesday, former US President Donald Trump had criticised Biden-Putin virtual summit and termed it an 'unfair match' for US. Sputnik quoted Trump as saying during interview with Newsmax channel, "w I see that Joe Biden is proceeding to be discussing to Putin, and that's t a fair match ... That wouldn't have been a fair match in prime time. This is t a fair match for our country."

Kremlin said Biden-Putin will discuss 'lamentable' ties

Meanwhile, on  eve of US President Joe Biden’s call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Kremlin had said that US-Russia ties are “lamentable” which will also be a part of discussion between both leaders. Biden and Putin are set to hold a video conference on 7 December and according to Sputnik, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that bilateral ties between both nations would be discussed. spokesperson also added that presidents will go through implementation of agreements that y reached during Geneva summit on 16 June 2021. 

Reportedly, Peskov informed that Biden and Putin will even identify issues which have been dealt with successfully along with ones that require extra effort. Tuesday call between American and Russian presidents came after both leaders in June this year discussed a range of issues including cybersecurity and cooperation in Arctic. Additionally, y had agreed to pull back from some of mutually punitive measures against each or’s diplomatic measures. 

(IM: AP)