Biden says he is ready to talk to his Russian counterpart Putin to end Ukraine War
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that he would be willing to talk to Vladimir Putin if he is willing to end the Ukraine war.
US President Biden was speaking during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, who said he would speak to Putin again after a trip to Washington and warned against cutting the Russian leader. In a press conference with Macron, Biden said he had no immediate plans to contact Putin, but left the possibility open.
“He is ready to talk to President Putin if he is really interested in deciding that he is looking for end the Ukraine war. He hasn’t done it,” Biden said.
“If so, considering my French friends in NATO, I will be delighted to sit talk with Putin to see what he has desided. He hasn’t done it yet.”
In closing, both Biden and Macron pledged long-term support for Ukraine as it fights Russian aggressors.
“There is only one way to end this war, the logical way. Putin to leave Ukraine, first. But it doesn’t seem like it,” Biden said. “Nursery, hospital, children’s home. What he is doing is crazy,” he said. “The idea that Putin will win Ukraine is beyond belief,” Biden said.
“He’s done everything he’s done wrong before.”
As Russia massed troops along the Ukrainian border ahead of the February 24 invasion, Biden and his top representative, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, spoke to Russia and warned it of the consequences. come out if he attacks.
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Macron said he has planned to talk to Putin in part about security at the Russian-owned Zaporizhzhia factory in Ukraine. “He will continue to talk to Russian President Putin,” Macron said, calling for efforts “to prevent escalation and achieve good results.”
But like Biden, Macron has said he won’t push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into a peace plan he doesn’t approve of.
“We will not ask the Ukrainians to make an agreement that is unacceptable to them,” Macron said. Macron said Zelensky had shown “good will” to seek peace, adding: “Our duty must be to work with him.”
Zelensky since the invasion has insisted that Ukraine return all the territories captured by Russia.
