Because of the threat of war in Europe, contact between Russia and the US President has intensified.
(Foto: imago images/ZUMA Wire)
Washington US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin spent an hour and two minutes on the phone. Biden had reaffirmed the previous position of the USA, as the White House announced following the conversation on Saturday. “Should Russia continue to invade Ukraine, the United States, together with our allies and partners, will respond decisively, at great cost to Russia.” Biden stressed that an invasion of Ukraine “will result in human suffering.” , Russia’s reputation in the world would suffer as a result.
The way to diplomatic talks is still open. But the US, in consultation with its allies, is “equally prepared for other scenarios,” the US President clarified.
On Saturday, the US government also urged US companies to prepare more for hacker attacks from Russia. “Every organization in the United States is at risk of cyber threats that can jeopardize critical services. As we know, the Russians have made cyberattacks a central part of their power projection,” wrote the chief of the US Agency for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure, Jen Easterly, on Twitter on Saturday. This is particularly true with a view to “the destruction or paralysis of critical infrastructure.” All organizations must therefore “be particularly vigilant. Now is the time to act.”
Authorities in the USA have been warning for months that American interference in the Ukraine conflict might lead to retaliation in the form of hacker attacks from Russia. In the worst case, the consequences might be felt internationally. According to CNN, financial institutions have received briefings classified as secret. Energy companies got an overview of Russia’s cyber capabilities.
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“There’s too much at stake”
“There hasn’t been a significant change in the dynamics that we’ve seen over the past few days,” a government official said following the Biden-Putin call. “But we believe we have presented ideas that reflect our interests and those of our allies.”
However, it is still unclear whether Russia is ready to take a diplomatic route. However, he referred to the “obvious steps that Russia would have taken in full view”. “We must give Russia every opportunity to prevent an action that we believe might end disastrously. There is too much at stake.” The two heads of state want to remain in contact in the coming days. Russia might still decide to take a military step. “It is indeed a concrete option.”
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made similar statements on Saturday in conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Blinken “made it clear that a diplomatic way out of the crisis remains an option,” said a statement from Washington. “However, that would require Moscow to de-escalate” and engage in constructive discussions. If Russia continues to choose the “path of aggression,” there will be a “resolute, massive, and united transatlantic response,” Blinken said. On Saturday, Putin also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron for almost two hours.
The US Department of Defense, meanwhile, announced it would temporarily withdraw 160 military trainers from Ukraine who were deployed near the Polish border – another sign of Washington’s concern.
On Friday, the US government warned of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine. “Russia might very quickly decide to launch major military action once morest Ukraine,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said at the White House on Friday night.
Sullivan urged US citizens to leave Ukraine within the next 48 hours. “Now is the time to go,” he said. “We are in a time window in which an invasion might begin at any time.” Germany and other countries are also in the process of withdrawing personnel from the country.
With agency material
>>> All current developments on the Ukraine crisis can be found in our news blog.
>> Read here: Federal government calls on German citizens to leave Ukraine
