The president said that U.S. and allies will respond “decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine.
Growing concerns over Moscow’s military buildup along the border with Ukraine was the subject of a nearly-hour-long telephone conversation between President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
President Biden told the Russian president that the United States and its allies “will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine,” according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in a statement released after the call.
A senior administration official said President Biden told President Putin he has two options: diplomacy leading to de-escalation or further aggression leading to “serious costs and consequences.”
The White House has repeatedly warned Russia against invading its neighbor. Diplomatic talks are scheduled in Geneva in mid-January.
A top adviser to President Putin says that the Russian president threatened a full diplomatic break with the United States should Washington impose new sanctions on Russia, an option under consideration by the Biden administration.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For God to be at work in the relations between the U.S. and Russia.
- For God to direct the meetings that the president and administration officials hold with international allies over the coming week.
- For the president to seek God’s direction on how to best address Russia’s military buildup and threats to regional peace.
- For God’s hand of protection to cover all U.S. forces serving abroad in Europe as they prepare in the face of increased tensions.
Sources: White House, USA Today, CBS News, Washington Examiner
