Biden, Putin meet with national security teams amid Russian invasion threat

Diplomats considered a summit between President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

President Joe Biden met with his top national security advisers Monday as U.S. officials continued to warn a Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared imminent – while diplomats considered a possible summit between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, all arrived at the White House on Presidents Day morning.

In Moscow, Putin announced during a Monday meeting with his own national security team that he would decide by the end of the day if he would recognize two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent, a move that analysts believe could be a precursor to Russia annexing them and possibly sending in troops. The Kremlin said he would deliver an address to Russians late Monday.

While the U.S. and Western allies have said they would be united in imposing severe sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, they have been more ambiguous about what steps they would take if Russia stopped short of a full-on invasion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that Russia recognizing the regions' independence would "necessitate a swift and firm response from the United States in full coordination with our allies and partners."