Ukraine conflict: Talks between Putin and Biden are to take place on Tuesday

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Joe Biden and Vladimir Putiin at their last meeting in Geneva, June 2021.

Photo: PETER KLAUNZER / POOL / EPA

Against the background of heightened tensions in the Ukraine conflict, US President Joe Biden and Russia's President Vladimir Putin want to hold a video conference on Tuesday, according to Russian sources.

The conversation is planned for the evening, Russian local time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov announced on Saturday.

Washington also confirmed the meeting.

The presidents themselves determine the duration of the exchange.

Moscow had already announced the video call on Friday, but without giving an exact date.

Washington accuses Moscow of preparing a military invasion of Ukraine, which the Russian government denies.

According to a report in the Washington Post, Moscow's plans would involve "extensive movements of a hundred battalions of tactical units of an estimated 175,000 men, along with tanks, artillery and equipment."

The government in Kiev warned on Friday of a major Russian attack at the end of January.

In view of a massive deployment of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine, there have long been fears that Russia might attack the neighboring country.

Moscow denies this and in return accuses Ukraine of allowing the West to arm itself militarily.

In addition, the Kremlin denounced NATO military maneuvers near the Russian borders.

Putin warned the West and Ukraine against crossing Russia's "red lines".

Biden replied on Friday that he would not accept a "red line".

At the same time, the US president announced that he wanted to prevent a Russian attack on Ukraine with a series of "initiatives".

The measures would make it "very, very difficult for Putin to go ahead and do what people fear he might do."

However, Biden did not provide any details about these measures.

xvc / dpa / rtr