President Biden Says He ‘Made It Clear’ to Putin That Russia ‘Cannot Move On’ Ukraine, Will Speak With Zelensky

President Joe Biden said on Friday he made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their call a day earlier that he cannot “move on Ukraine.”

President Biden said Friday he told Putin that there will be a “heavy price to pay” if Russia invades Ukraine. “We made it clear to President Putin that if he makes any more moves, goes into Ukraine, we will have severe sanctions. We will increase our presence in Europe with our NATO allies, and it’ll just be a heavy price to pay for it,” President Biden said to reporters after a New Year’s Eve lunch in Wilmington, Delaware.

Putin again offered little clues to his intentions, officials said. Instead, the two men held what a US official described as a “serious and substantive” discussion, during which President Biden laid out two paths for Putin as he continues to amass Russian troops on the border with Ukraine: one a diplomatic route toward de-escalation and one focused on deterrence using economic sanctions, enhanced US troop presence on NATO’s eastern flank and increased assistance to Ukraine.

President Biden says he stressed to Putin that invading Ukraine “will be a heavy price to pay for him.” On Russia facing sanctions if troops stay, @POTUS said: “I’m not going to negotiate here in public but I made it clear that he cannot — emphasize cannot — move on Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/68hLpKVkYw

— Jenny Leonard (@jendeben) December 31, 2021

The President said that Putin has agreed to three upcoming conferences in Europe, including US-Russia diplomatic talks led by US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on January 10th in Geneva and Russia-NATO talks on January 12.

Readout: President Biden spoke today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. President Biden urged Russia to de-escalate tensions with Ukraine. He made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 30, 2021

During his call with Putin on Thursday, President Biden urged the Russian leader to take steps to ease the crisis on his nation’s border with Ukraine, warning again of dire economic consequences should Putin proceed with an invasion. Putin told President Biden that introducing a new round of sanctions against Russia would amount to a “colossal mistake” that could lead to a complete breakdown of relations between the two countries.

So according to republicans taking a call from Vladimir Putin while at his home in Delaware is a vacation for President Biden.

But 4 years of Trump golfing was working. 😳😳

Also one trip for Trump golfing cost the same as Biden’s visits home for the entire year.

— Johnathan Ford⬅️ (@FordJohnathan5) December 30, 2021

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President Biden is scheduled to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, a White House official said. The President plans to reaffirm US support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, discuss Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and review preparations for upcoming diplomatic engagements to help de-escalate the situation in the region.”

Biden says Putin agreed on "three major conferences" next month with senior staff. "I made it clear that it only could work if he deescalated," Biden says.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 31, 2021