White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the summit between President Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would probably follow a meeting later this week by the two countries’ top diplomats, Antony J. Blinken and Sergei Lavrov.
, Western and Russian leaders continued to engage in a high-stakes dance Sunday mixing equal parts diplomatic bickering and military puffery — but with little sign that their efforts could successfully forestall the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.
The intensification of hostilities in the east came as Belarus announced that about 30,000 Russian troops would extend their stay beyond the conclusion of joint exercises, countering earlier statements that not a single Russian soldier would remain on Belarus’ territory after Sunday. Meanwhile, Biden, who said Friday that he believed war was imminent, huddled with his national security staff on Sunday. The president and other Western leaders have warned that a Russian disinformation campaign is underway aimed at blaming Ukraine for starting a war — despite a lack of evidence that the country has provoked tensions with Russia-backed separatists.
Concluding three days of meetings in Munich with European allies before departing for Washington, Harris emphasized unity and solidarity and a commitment to Ukraine.after his fiery speech “Depending on what happens in the coming days, we will reevaluate the need that Ukraine has and our ability to support,” she said.
Ukrainians on Sunday commemorated the eighth anniversary of the Maidan protests. About 50 people were killed on Feb. 20, 2014, during antigovernment demonstrations against then-President Viktor Yanukovich. A Moscow ally who had rejected closer ties with Europe, Yanukovich fled the country the following day. Ultimately more than 100 Ukrainians died during the demonstrations.
Harris also held firm to the administration’s threat of economic sanctions as a deterrent against Russia. Zelensky has urged the West to levy sanctions before a potential invasion, suggesting that doing so after tanks cross his border won’t do his country much good.
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