U.S. President Joe Biden in his first phone call with Vladimir Putin since taking office raised concerns with the Kremlin leader over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Russian “aggression” against Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.
Biden placed the call in order to discuss with Putin “our willingness to extend” for five years the New START nuclear weapons treaty, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
He also brought up “our strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression,” Psaki said.
Biden raised other “matters of concern, including the Solar Winds hack, reports of Russia placing bounties on United States soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 election, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and treatment of peaceful protesters by Russian security forces.”
Psaki said Biden’s “intention was also to make clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to malign actions by Russia.”
Putin told his U.S. counterpart that he supports “normalization” of relations between their two countries, the Kremlin said.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin in the call “noted that the normalization of relations between Russia and the United States would meet the interests of both countries” and “the entire international community.”
(c) The Moscow Times
He also brought up “our strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression,” Psaki said.
I hope this strong support makes a loud bang when fired.
‘Putin told his U.S. counterpart that he supports “normalization” of relations between their two countries, the Kremlin said.’
Meaning Trump had no ‘normal’ relations with the Kremlin.
“Biden placed the call in order to discuss with Putin “our willingness to extend” for five years the New START nuclear weapons treaty…”
“our strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression”
“matters of concern, including the Solar Winds hack, reports of Russia placing bounties on United States soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 election, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and treatment of peaceful protesters by Russian security forces.”
Unless Biden’s action says otherwise, these words are empty political speak … ringing as hollow as rapping on an empty oil drum.
The late great Ronald Reagan once said, “They [The Soviet Union] are the focus of evil in the modern world.” I am positive that he would find similar words for the rodent and his crime syndicate. Maybe he would not even have visited the rug rat and instead set a few things clear from the get-go.
Anyone thinking Biden would not bow to Putin is quite deluded. Biden has recently done two things the Russians are laughing about.
“Yet, from revoking the Keystone XL pipeline permit to seeking an automatic extension of a flawed and outdated New START treaty, President Biden’s first 48 hours in office have greatly benefited Russia at the expense of the interests of our allies, American workers, and America’s national security. Nevertheless, his Democrat colleagues on Capital hill and media allies don’t seem to mind at all. It’s as if the threats Russia poses suddenly evaporated once a Democrat took the White House.”
https://thefederalist.com/2021/01/26/canceling-the-keystone-pipeline-and-reducing-u-s-arms-are-bidens-first-two-major-gifts-to-russia/
I don’t expect Biden to be anything else but a white Obumer. however, I do hope that I’ll be proven wrong. And if not, then I hope that at least Congress will not be fooled by the crime syndicate.
Congress is already part of the crime syndicate and will remain so as long as the Uniparty remains in power. The Republicans are no better than the Democrats.
The Kremlin expects, and will shrug off, harsh rhetoric from Biden. It will be more concerned how far this translates into action against Russia. More tangible US support for Kiev and democratic movements
Any actions against Russia will be
” trumped ” ( no pun intended ) by the Biden’s administration desire to repair transatlantic partnership with Europe.
I expect more appeasement than actions due to Germany and France policy of non-confrontation towards the Russia.