Reuters, Feb 12 (WASHINGTON/MOSCOW) - On Saturday, US Vice President Joe Biden cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin that any invasion of Ukraine will result in enormous pain and isolation for Russia.
The two leaders chatted for an hour on the phone the day after Washington and its allies warned that Russia's military, which has 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, could invade at any time. These warnings have been disregarded as "hysteria" by Moscow.
There had been no breakthroughs, neither side claimed. The call was professional and meaningful, according to a senior Biden administration official, but no major changes were made.
Putin told Biden, the Kremlin said. Russia's key concerns have not been addressed by Washington.
Summary
The call between Biden and Putin lasted an hour, and no progress was made.
No'substantial response' to significant concerns, according to the Kremlin.
More countries are urging Ukrainian people to leave the country immediately.
Thousands of people marched through Kyiv, screaming "Glory to Ukraine."
Reuters, WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Feb 12 - On Saturday, US President Joe Biden cautioned Russian President Vladimir Putin that any invasion of Ukraine will result in enormous pain and isolation for Moscow.
The two leaders chatted on the phone for an hour the day after Washington and its allies warned that Russia's military, which has 100,000 troops stationed near Ukraine, could invade at any time. Those warnings have been disregarded by Moscow as "hysteria."
There had been no breakthroughs, neither side claimed. The call was professional and meaningful, according to a senior Biden administration official, but no major changes were made.
Putin told Biden, the Kremlin said. Washington has failed to address Russia's core concerns, and it has received no "substantive response" on important issues such as NATO expansion and offensive force deployment in Ukraine.
Even as he agreed to keep in touch with Biden, a senior Biden administration source acknowledged it was uncertain whether Putin was devoted to dialogue.
The demand came as Israel, Portugal, and Belgium joined the list of countries urging their citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.
The State Department of the United States has ordered the majority of its embassy personnel to leave Ukraine. The Pentagon announced the withdrawal of approximately 150 military trainers.
As Russia massed military forces on its border, Australia announced it was evacuating its embassy in Kyiv on Sunday, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging China to speak up for Ukraine and not remain "chillingly silent." find out more
Morrison's comments to a news conference followed criticism by China of a meeting of the U.S., Australian, Japanese and Indian foreign ministers last week in Melbourne. read more
"The coalition of autocracies that we are seeing, seeking to bully other countries, is not something that Australia ever takes a light position on," Morrison said.
TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY
Biden was due to compare notes with French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday, according to the White House. Biden's top military and diplomatic officials held calls with their Russian counterparts.
Putin also spoke with Alexander Lukashenko, leader of Ukraine's northern neighbor Belarus, which is engaged in major joint military drills with Russia.
