By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters).-U.S. President Joe Biden announced Friday that he has developed comprehensive plans to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine. Also, he said he wouldn’t accept Moscow’s “red lines” given the growing concern that the conflict could escalate to war.

Within days, a video conference between the leaders of both countries is expected.

More than 94,000 Russian troops are massed https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/large-scale-russian-offensive-possible-january-ukraine-says-2021-12-03 near Ukraine’s borders, said Ukraine’s defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, who cited intelligence reports suggesting Moscow may be planning a large-scale military offensive for the end of January.

Moscow has, on its part, accused the United States and Ukraine of destabilizing behaviour and suggested that Kyiv could be planning to launch an offensive in Eastern Ukraine. This is a suggestion which was denied by the Ukrainian authorities.

Biden spoke without getting into details.

As he departed for a weekend trip to Camp David later on Friday, Biden told reporters: “We’re aware of Russia’s actions for a long time and my expectation is we’re going to have a long discussion with Putin.”

“I don’t accept anybody’s red lines,” he said of Russia’s demands.

Officials from the U.S., Ukraine and other countries warned this week again that Russia is under severe economic sanctions.

When asked by a U.S. official about Biden’s plan, a top American official said, “Since our beginning of this Administration we have shown that the United States is willing to use many tools to address harmful Russian activities.” They will use those tools and others in the future.

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that Ukraine security assistance is being considered.

BIDEN-PUTIN CALL

Tensions in Ukraine set the stage for the U.S. President’s first phone call since July. He will be calling his Russian counterpart next week. After Putin and Biden spoke last July, officials have been working to negotiate the terms of this call.

According to the Kremlin, the United States and Russia had agreed on Friday to a date and time. Moscow is still waiting for Washington’s approval. According to the White House, it was only “engaged” with talks about a possible conference.

Biden imposed sanctions on Russia in April https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-imposes-wide-array-sanctions-russia-malign-actions-2021-04-15 and has left open the possibility of more. Washington believes that further direct engagement with Russia will bring down the temperatures at a moment when relations have been at an all-time low since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

A senior State Department official said that “we want open channels of communication with Russia,” speaking under anonymity. These channels are crucial, particularly in tension situations.

On Thursday, a group of lower-ranking officials offered a glimpse at what the Biden-Putin call could look like.

In Stockholm on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/blinken-urges-russias-lavrov-take-diplomatic-exit-ukraine-crisis-2021-12-02 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that there would be “severe costs” if Moscow escalates conflict, a message Biden appears prepared to reiterate.

Blinken said to the Reuters Next conference that Biden will tell Putin about his country’s determination to “stand up resolutely to any reckless or aggressive activities that Russia might pursue, and also to protect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, its sovereignty, and independence.”

Russian officials said that Putin will press for legally binding security assurances from the West, that NATO would not accept Ukraine into its military alliance and do away with missile systems to attack Russia.

Similar to their previous talks in Geneva in June, cybersecurity and arms issues are likely to be brought up.