France, on Monday, has announced that the President of Russia and the President of the United States have agreed to hold a summit only if Moscow does not invade Ukraine after a frantic new round of negotiations and diplomatic talks to avert the ongoing crisis.
Both the leaders have finally agreed to the summit in principle that was proposed by the President of France Emmanuel Macron. The White House has confirmed President Biden’s willingness though the statement was notably cautious. As per a senior official, the timing of the summit is yet to be determined and the format is also not decided, so it is all completely notional as of now.
The Elysee has said that the summit will further be expanded to all the relevant stakeholders and the preparations would begin between the United States of America and Russia on Thursday. This breakthrough was possible after the US had warned of an imminent invasion by Russia and both Russia and Ukraine had blamed each other for the rise in shellings on the front line that separates Kyiv’s forces from Moscow-based separatists.
The bombardments on the front line had sent Ukrainians to their cellars and other shelters and meanwhile, some civilians had to be evacuated as well. The White House had issued a statement saying that it was still ready to impose severe and swift consequences on Russia if it were to invade. As per the statement by Jen Psaki, the US Press Secretary, Russia had appeared to be continuing preparations for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine very soon.
The US along with other Western powers said that Russia had amassed more than 150,000 military troops on the borders of Ukraine and was ready to launch a full-scale assault on its neighbour. Moscow has so far denied all the allegations of any intent to invade Ukraine but has put forward demands stating that the NATO alliance should permanently rule out any possibility of Ukraine’s membership. Russia had also called out for the withdrawal of Western forces that are being deployed in Eastern Europe ever since the Cold War had ended.
The announcement of the summit involving the US and Russia came a few moments after the French President had held a second marathon call with Vladimir Putin. In the first call with the Russian President, Putin had blamed the Ukrainian security forces for the rise in the violence on the front line. During the second time, the leaders spoke was for an hour and soon after it was announced that a summit will be held.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken had earlier stated that Russia was on the brink of Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron also spoke with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky who had called for an immediate ceasefire and for resumption of talks with Russia. As per the tweet sent out by the Ukrainian leader, it said that they stood for the intensifying of the peace process. He further added that he had informed the French President about the new provocative shelling that took place on the front line between the forces of Ukraine and Moscow-based rebels.
