Biden accepts 'in principle' to meet with Putin: White House

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden has accepted a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "in principle," in the event that Russia does not invade Ukraine, the White House announced Sunday.

In a statement, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are "scheduled to meet later this week in Europe, provided Russia does not proceed with military action.”

The top diplomats are expected to meet on Feb. 24.

"President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin following that engagement, again, if an invasion hasn’t happened," said Psaki, adding "we are always ready for diplomacy."

Psaki also reiterated that the US is ready to respond with swift and severe consequences if Moscow chooses war against the former Soviet republic.

"And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon," she added.

Psaki noted that Washington is "committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.”

Earlier in the day, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke separately with Putin and Biden. A meeting between Biden and Putin was proposed by Macron, according to the French presidency.

Biden and Putin "have both accepted the principle of such a summit," said the Elysee Palace.

Tensions have risen dramatically in eastern Ukraine, with a growing number of cease-fire violations, multiple shelling incidents, and the evacuation of civilians from the pro-Russian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Western countries have accused Russia of amassing more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, prompting fears that it could be planning a military offensive against its former Soviet neighbor.

Moscow has repeatedly denied any plan to invade Ukraine and instead accused Western countries of undermining Russia’s security through NATO’s expansion toward its borders