Calls Vladimir Putin, Here's What Joe Biden Discussed

JAKARTA - President of the United States (US) Joe Biden for the first time spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tuesday, January 26 local time. A number of things are discussed in this phone connection.

The White House said President Biden raised concerns about Russian activities, including his treatment of imprisoned Kremlin criticus, Alexei Navalny.

In addition, they also agreed to extend the New START arms control agreement on February 5, when the pact expires.

White House Spokesman Jen Psaki said the talks were part of President Joe Biden's way of adjusting US policy towards Russia, after previously Donald Trump was reluctant to 'face' Putin directly.

"Items discussed included a proposal to extend the New START nuclear weapons agreement with Russia by five years and US strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty in the face of ongoing Russian aggression," Psaki said.

Under this agreement, the United States and Russia both agreed to limit each party to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads.

Psaki continued, President Biden also raised the case of Navalny, who was jailed after returning to Moscow from Germany last week, a case that has escalated tensions between Russia and the United States.

President Biden further voiced concern to Putin about what the White House calls interference in the 2020 presidential election, as well as the Solar Winds cyber hack blamed to Moscow, as well as reports that Russia is offering prizes to Taliban rebels for killing US troops in Afghanistan.