“We’ll see” - Biden on possibility of holding summit with Putin

29.12.2021 10:20

Ukrinform

The American media are discussing the possibility of Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin's personal participation in the negotiations on the Strategic Stability Dialogue, scheduled for January 10.

That’s according to the Voice of America, Ukrinform reports.

When asked by the press on Tuesday whether he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on January 10, U.S. President Joe Biden said: "We’ll see."

This is the day when U.S. and Russian government delegations are due to hold talks on security in Europe, the report explains.

According to the publication, the White House did not respond to a Reuters inquiry to comment on whether Biden meant these precise talks when answering questions about the prospects of meeting with Putin.

It is noted that the talks, whose exact date was announced on Monday, will discuss fears of the United States and its allies over the mounting tensions around Ukraine.

It is unclear at the moment, who will lead the U.S. and Russian delegations to the talks on January 10, according to Voice of America.

During the briefing, a journalist asked State Department Spokesman Ned Price to confirm the report that the American delegation will be headed by Wendy Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State. Price declined to confirm, saying that further details will be announced in the coming days.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference on December 23 that talks with "American partners" on security issues could be expected to be held early next year. According to Putin, "representatives from both sides have been appointed."

Earlier, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried announced the possibility of launching a substantive dialogue with Russia as early as next month. She stressed that the United States is mulling negotiations in three formats: a bilateral dialogue on strategic stability, the NATO-Russia Council, and the OSCE.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was not planning talks of U.S. and Russian leaders. According to the top diplomat, certain diplomatic progress is required prior to that, as well as de-escalation on the part of Russia and the pullback of Russian troops from Ukraine.