Talks with Putin possible if he ends war in Ukraine, Biden says
Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden in the White House on December 1, 2022 (Photo:REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
U.S. President Joe Biden would be open to direct talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin if Russia ends its invasion of Ukraine, Biden said on Dec. 1, as reported by Reuters.
“I have no immediate plans to contact Mr. Putin,” Biden said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.
“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin, if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he's looking for a way to end the war. He hasn't done that yet.”
According to Biden, the only “rational” way to end the war in Ukraine is for Russia to withdraw its troops.
“It appears he's not going to do that; he's paying a very heavy prince for failing to do it,” the president said.
Macron is currently on a state visit to the United States.
In November, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Washington and Moscow keep some of their communications channel open, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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