Biden Warns Putin Of 'Severe Costs' Of Ukraine Invasion
Newsy
The White House says the call lasted 62-minutes.
In a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, President Joe Biden made clear that if Russia invades Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies would respond "decisively and impose swift and severe costs," the White House said.
According to a readout of the hourlong call, President Biden told Putin that an invasion would "produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia's standing." The U.S. remains committed to diplomacy, but was "equally prepared for other scenarios," according to the White House.
The two presidents spoke the day after President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned that U.S. intelligence shows that a Russian invasion could begin within days and before the Winter Olympics in Beijing end Feb. 20.