Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will call Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, via video on Tuesday. The Kremlin confirmed the news Saturday.

Sources in the U.S. said that the two will meet to discuss U.S. concerns regarding Russia’s buildup of military forces at Ukraine’s border, as well other subjects. According to the Kremlin, they will discuss bilateral ties as well as the implementation of the agreements made at the June summit in Geneva.

Biden will discuss regional and cyber issues, strategic stability, as well as cybersecurity. Not all details of the conference call were disclosed.

Over 94,000 Russian troops have been deployed near Ukraine’s borders. Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Friday https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/large-scale-russian-offensive-possible-january-ukraine-says-2021-12-03 that Moscow may be planning a large-scale military offensive for the end of January, citing intelligence reports.

The U.S. source stated Saturday that Biden would highlight U.S. concerns regarding Russian military activity on Ukraine’s border. He will also reaffirm America’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

According to the U.S. president, he has been laying out a series of actions that will deter Putin from launching an invasion. While he didn’t give any further details, the Biden administration discussed partnerships with European allies to increase sanctions against Russia.

Moscow charges Kyiv with pursuing its own military buildup. The Russian government dismissed the suggestion that Kyiv is planning to attack its southern neighbour and defended its rights to send troops onto its territory as necessary.

Officials from the United States claim they don’t know what Putin is up to. They also say that intelligence suggests preparations to invade Ukraine. However, it remains unclear if a decision has been taken.

Relations between the United States and Russia have been declining for many years. These include Russia’s 2014 annexation from Ukraine of Crimea, its 2015 intervention to Syria, as well as U.S intelligence charges that it interfered in Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory.

They have been volatile over the past few months.

The Biden administration has asked Moscow to crack down on ransomware and cyber crime attacks emanating from Russian soil, and in November charged https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-seizes-6-mln-ransom-payments-charge-ukrainian-over-cyberattack-cnn-2021-11-08 a Ukraine national and a Russian in one of the worst ransomware attacks against American targets.

Russia denies having carried out cyber attacks or allowing them to happen.

Biden has only had one meeting with the leaders since January when he took office. He met up in Geneva for talks last June. Their last phone conversation was on July 9. Biden enjoys having direct conversations with world leaders and sees them as an opportunity to reduce tensions.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russian Foreign Minister ” https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/blinken-urges-russias-lavrov-take-diplomatic-exit-ukraine-crisis-2021-12-02 Sergei Lavrov in Stockholm earlier this week that the United States and its European allies would impose “severe costs and consequences on Russia if it takes further aggressive action against Ukraine.”