By Jarrett Renshaw

WILMINGTON (Delaware)/MOSCOW, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will speak on Thursday. The topic of rising tensions regarding Ukraine is high up.

The White House stated that Putin asked for the call and it is set to occur at 3:30 PM. ET (2030 GMT).

Moscow, which has gathered tens to thousands of troops close to its border with Ukraine over the last two months following the 2014 seizure by Ukraine of the Crimea peninsula and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, has alarmated the West.

Russia claims it is not planning to attack Ukraine, and that it can move troops to its territory as it pleases.

Officials have said the leaders will discuss a range of topics, including upcoming security talks next month, the tense situation in Europe, and ongoing talks with Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/russian-envoy-iran-says-he-met-with-us-counterpart-vienna-2021-12-29 over its nuclear program.

The White House and Kremlin both are expected to give their summaries after the conference.

Moscow is concerned about the West’s plans to rearm Ukraine. It has stated that it seeks legally binding guarantees NATO won’t expand eastwards and certain offensive weapons won’t be sent to Ukraine.

Biden and Putin have been in talks ahead of the U.S.-Russian security meeting on January 10, followed by Russia-NATO sessions on Jan. 12 and 13. A broader conference that includes Washington, Moscow and other European nations is scheduled for Jan. 13.

A senior Biden administration official said that U.S. concern has not diminished over the last few weeks. Another U.S. official stated that, despite reports that Russia was pulling back 10,000 troops at its border with Ukraine this weekend, there had been little support for that claim.

One U.S. official, who refused to identify himself, stated that “we are in a crisis moment and have been for several weeks”

U.S. officials have assured Moscow they would take quick economic actions against Russia and support NATO in case it invades.

However, the U.S. President has been advocating direct diplomacy as an option.

Putin has said that the current tensions are similar to 1962’s Cold War-era Cuban Missile Crisis. Some of Washington’s demands, such as restrictions on NATO expansion and other requirements, are non-starters.