Biden and Putin held talks on Ukraine

(Patria) - US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a two-hour conversation via a secure video link on Tuesday, and according to initial information, as previously announced, the topic of discussion was tensions in Ukraine.

The meeting began around 10 a.m. Eastern Time and ended at 12:08 p.m., CNN reported, citing White House information.

In what was considered one of the most important foreign policy meetings of Biden's presidency, the president was expected to outline to Putin what sanctions and other actions the United States might take if the Russian president decides to attack Ukraine, CNN reported.

The two leaders previously met in Geneva last year in June, and according to available information, their last phone call took place in July.

Later that day, after the call, Biden will speak with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – a group of European allies with whom he spoke on Monday evening. Incidentally, Merkel is marking her last day as German Chancellor on Tuesday.

On Monday, they exchanged views on "shared concerns about Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders and increasingly harsh rhetoric from Russia," the White House said in a statement.

"The leaders agreed to stay in close contact on a coordinated and comprehensive approach in response to Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders," the White House said of Monday's call.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will brief reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that it continues to observe "additional military capability" of Russian forces along the border with Ukraine.

US officials have discussed imposing broader sanctions on Russia in recent days to deter Putin from invading Ukraine. These include new actions against members of Putin's inner circle and Russian energy producers, as well as a potential "nuclear option" – disconnecting Russia from the international payment system SWIFT used by banks worldwide.

Officials said no final decisions have been made on whether and when to impose new sanctions, and stressed that the Biden administration is currently in talks with European partners – many of whom have closer economic ties with Russia – in hopes of coordinating actions.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said during a press briefing on Monday that it would be "clear to Biden – as we have stated publicly – that we are preparing a range of economic sanctions or economic options that could have a detrimental impact on the Russian economy."

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