Andrew Osborn and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW – Tuesday’s high-stakes conference call between U.S. President Joe Biden (Reuters) will be used by Putin to discourage Moscow from invading Ukraine. There are thousands of troops near the border.

Biden discussed plans to impose sanctions on Russia Monday, ahead of his direct talks with Putin in July. He also sought to strengthen allied support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Biden met with the French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also spoke to Mario Draghi (Italian Prime Minister) and Boris Johnson (British Prime Minister).

They asked Russia for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic diplomacy. The White House announced that the teams will remain in close touch with each other, and in consultations with NATO allies.

A senior Biden official stated that the team of Biden has identified economic sanctions to be imposed if Russia invades.

According to a separate source, the possibility of targeting Putin’s inner circle was discussed. However, no decisions have been made. A source confirmed that Russia is considering sanctions on Russia’s banks, and also the ability to convert rubles in dollars and other currencies.

Jen Psaki, White House spokesperson said that it was unclear if Putin has made the final decision to invade Ukraine.

Biden will speak from the White House Situation Room during the secure video conference at 1500 GMT.

Ukraine and NATO powers accuse Russia of building up troops near the border, sparking fears of a possible attack https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/ten-points-tension-between-putin-biden-2021-12-06. Moscow claims that such a plan is not being pursued and has accused Kyiv to building its own troops in the east. This area, which Russian-backed separatists hold a significant portion of Ukrainian territory, accuses Moscow.

A senior Biden Administration official stated that Putin will be subject to severe economic sanctions if it launches war.

The United States called on both nations to return to the agreements they signed in 2014/2015, which were designed to prevent a Russian-speaking war in Ukraine’s eastern region.

According to the official, he stated to reporters that while Russia may face very serious costs if it decides to move forward, he also will emphasize that diplomatic efforts can be effective.

Both leaders arrive at the talks with little to no room for compromise. [L1N2SR1QN]

Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokesperson) said in Moscow that the talks would be focused on Russia’s view of NATO’s growing expansion to its borders and long-term security assurances for Russia.

Putin said that he wanted legally-binding guarantees NATO would not expand more eastwards. He also requested a guarantee that some types of arms will be prohibited from being deployed in Russia and other countries near Russia.

Putin is expected to raise the possibility of holding another U.S.-Russia summit https://www.reuters.com/world/wide-disagreements-low-expectations-biden-putin-meet-2021-06-15 with Biden too. The men last talked by telephone in July. They also met in person at the June summit in Geneva.

Peskov said to reporters that “Ofcourse” the agenda is bilateral relations. He added, however, that they remain in a very lamentable position. And then there’s the question. The main theme is tension in Ukraine and NATO advances towards our borders. President Putin’s initiative regarding security guarantees.

Tensions in the international community have been steadily rising over Ukraine and parts of the Black Sea. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Friday that fighter jets were being used to assist two U.S. military reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea.

U.S. General Mark Milley was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and met with NATO Chiefs of Defense virtually Monday to discuss “significant security developments in Europe”.

At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday the meeting between Biden and Putin “is extremely important, given the current context of what we see going on in many parts of the world.”