Biden agrees to meet with Putin - White House

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said this in a statement on February 20, Ukrinform reports.

"Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov are scheduled to meet later this week in Europe, provided Russia does not proceed with military action. President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin following that engagement, again, if an invasion hasn't happened," she said.

Psaki pointed out that the United States is always ready for diplomacy. At the same time, she stressed: "We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war."

"And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon," Psaki added.

Biden earlier held a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

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