National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said President Biden was “direct and direct” in his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that Biden said the US would respond to further Russian escalation in Ukraine with “typically strong clear reactions”. Will give
“He (Biden) reiterated US support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He told President Putin directly that if Russia attacks Ukraine further, the United States and our European allies will respond with stronger economic measures,” Sullivan said in a briefing after the phone call on Tuesday.
“We will provide additional defensive material for Ukrainians above and beyond what we are already providing. And we will strengthen our NATO allies on the East Coast with additional capabilities in response to such escalation.”
Biden also told Putin that there is “another alternative” to “de-escalation and diplomacy”, pointing to actions taken after the Cold War.
Sullivan said there was “a lot of give and take” on the call, “no finger pointing. But the president was very clear about where the United States stands on all of these issues.”
Sullivan said Biden “welcomed” the opportunity to engage “clearly and directly” with Putin.
Sullivan said Biden held talks with leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK after the call, and soon spoke to leaders of both houses of Congress.
Biden will also speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday.
Sullivan said that on the next steps, Biden and Putin agreed that their teams would follow up on the items discussed on Tuesday.
Sullivan said that in addition to diplomatic channels, the US will also prepare for all contingencies, “should they be required through preparation of a specific response to Russian escalation.”
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