The stalemate of relations is likely to be over if Russia is forced back into Ukraine. The president’s comments came as Vladimir Putin stepped down after rumors of Russian retaliatory actions in Ukraine prompted retaliatory protests in Moscow. Putin said he was afraid Russian repression would be devastating to Russia. He said Russia would respond if Russia invades.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned President Joe Biden in a phone call on Thursday that relations between the two countries could collapse if the US imposes sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
The Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after the call that Putin told Biden that sanctions “could lead to a complete breakdown in ties between our countries,” Reuters reported.
“Our president also mentioned that it would be a mistake that our descendants would see as a huge error,” he said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Biden told Putin that Russia needed to “de-escalate tensions with Ukraine.” She said Biden warned that the US would respond if Russia presses ahead with a Ukraine invasion.
“President Biden reiterated that substantive progress in these dialogues can occur only in an environment of de-escalation,”
