Biden to speak Thursday with Ukrainian president after call with Putin

President Biden will speak on Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to follow up on his video conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House confirmed.

Biden spoke with Putin for two hours on Tuesday, during which he warned Moscow against invading Ukraine, the White House said in a readout of the conversation.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Biden would follow his call with Putin by speaking with European allies and congressional leaders as well as by holding a call with Zelensky.

Biden and Zelensky will likely discuss a potential diplomatic resolution to the standoff with Russia during their call on Thursday, Sullivan said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Zelensky on Monday to coordinate ahead of Biden’s call with Putin.

Biden held the discussion with Putin as a Russian troop buildup on the border with Ukraine has exacerbated fears about a potential Russian military invasion of its neighbor to the west. 

“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 readout stated.

Sullivan told reporters he was direct in warning Putin against invading Ukraine, suggesting significant sanctions would be on the table without getting into specifics. 

“I will look you in the eye and tell you as President Biden looked President Putin in the eye and told him today, that things we did not do in 2014, we are prepared to do now,” Sullivan said at a press briefing, referencing when Russia invaded Crimea.