On Tuesday, President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a conversation which was the first between the two leaders since Biden took office.
Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin Speak!
The Kremlin has described the conversation as a “businesslike and frank” conversation – the first between the two leaders since Biden took office.
Biden initiated the call with the White House, according to both governments. There a litany of topics listed in the readout of their conversation. One was potentially extending the New START arms reduction agreement. Also, the Russian-backed conflict in Ukraine. As well as the recent SolarWinds hack. Most analysts attribute it to Moscow. In addition to reports that Russia placed bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Also the interference in the 2020 U.S. president election. Moreover, the poisoning late last year of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny. The Russian forces were arrested last week. This occurred after he returned to his homeland. As well as the Kremlin’s ongoing crackdown of vast protests across the country.
President Joe Biden Takes Decisive Action
In fact, Biden’s intention “was also to make clear that the U.S. will act strongly in defense of our national interests in response to harmful actions by Russia,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said of the call.
Therefore, her tone indicated that this White House shows its upcoming relations with Russia to be an swift departure from that of former President Donald Trump. Trump routinely faced flak for refusing to criticize his Russian counterpart/buddy publicly. Putin is not the enemy! In fact, China is our greatest threat to freedom and democracy.
Asking the agencies in question, I want a thorough read for me on every single one of those issues. I want to be updated specifically on where they are. I will not hesitate to raise those issues with the Russians, he said. According to a person familiar with the matter, Tuesday’s call came at Moscow’s request. In fact, Biden wanted to confer with the leaders in Europe. Then Putin’s advisers before getting on the phone with him. Then, the Kremlin requested the call shortly after Biden took office last week. This is standard procedure for foreign leaders who are wishing to speak with the new president.
