JAKARTA - A meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin is only possible after a significant de-escalation in Ukraine, White House communications director Kate Bedingfield told reporters.
"He said yesterday he would be willing to meet with President Putin again or talk to him," Bedingfield said, referring to President Biden.
"I'm not going to set any preconditions for a conversation between President Biden and President Putin, except to say, we've been very clear and President Biden has been very clear, there needs to be a real de-escalation from Russia and a clear, genuine commitment to diplomacy," he said.
On Monday, President Biden said a new private meeting with President Putin was possible, adding the prospect of such talks would depend on their agenda.
Last weekend, President Biden alluded to Russia and surprised many when he briefly called President Putin unable to stay in power, and called him a butcher, during a visit to Poland. Previously, he had also called President Putin a war criminal.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov regretted President Biden's remarks, deeming it inappropriate and that the country's leader should be able to control emotions. The US Ambassador to Moscow, John Sullivan, was summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry last week.
VOIR éGALEMENT:
The White House, the US Secretary of State, diplomats, and US politicians are trying to dampen the aftermath of President Biden's statement. There are also a number of Western politicians, including French President Emmanuel Macron to the United Nations and the European Union have also spoken about this.
Despite having a negative impact on relations between the two countries, Peskov said dialogue between the United States and Russia is still necessary in various ways, in the interests of the whole world.
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