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US President Joe Biden
Photo: Susan Walsh / dpa
There is no talk of a military response, but US President Joe Biden has threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with unprecedented sanctions by the United States in the event of an attack on Ukraine.
If Russia attacks Ukraine, the US would fight back with sanctions, "as he has never seen it before," said Biden one day after the two presidents' video summit.
Biden and Putin exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict on Tuesday (read an analysis here).
Russia has gathered tens of thousands of soldiers on the border with its neighboring country.
This is fueling fears in the West that the Russian army could invade Ukraine.
Moscow rejects this and accuses Ukraine of provocations.
Shortly before Biden's statement, Putin made it clear that Moscow reserves the right to "defend Russia's security".
"Russia pursues a peaceful foreign policy, but has the right to defend its security," Putin said at a press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Putin did not address the Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine.
But he said that it would be "criminal inaction" if Russia did not act in the face of the approach of NATO.
The prospect of Ukraine joining NATO is "viewed with concern."
Putin also praised the talks with Biden as constructive.
The dialogue will continue.
US military flights over the Black Sea - Russia delivers a protest note
In connection with the use of military aircraft over the Black Sea, Russia delivered a protest note to the US embassy in Moscow. The US and its NATO allies are undertaking "provocations against civilian aircraft" that endanger the airspace and human life, it says. The US side had listed several incidents - including an incident last week. A Russian passenger plane had to change its altitude because of a NATO reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea.
Moscow also complained about "dangerous maneuvers" by American naval ships.
Especially around the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, there are repeated disputes and incidents because Russia sees its air and sea borders threatened.
The annexation of Crimea is not recognized internationally, which is why most other states consider it to be Ukrainian territory.
as / dpa / AFP
