Putin tells Biden New Sanctions could lead to breakdown of ties amid Ukraine tension

BoomRadioNG | December 31, 2021

Russia’s Vladimir Putin has warned his US counterpart Joe Biden that imposing new sanctions over Ukraine could lead to a complete breakdown in relations.

In a phone call late on Thursday, the Russian president said such sanctions would be a “colossal mistake”.

Biden, meanwhile, told Putin that the US and its allies would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine.

The call, requested by Russia, was the pair’s second such conversation this month and lasted for almost an hour.

Vladmir Putin of Russia

It marked the latest effort to defuse tensions over Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia, where Ukrainian officials say more than 100,000 Russian troops have been sent.

Although the two sides exchanged warnings during the call, Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters shortly after that Putin was “pleased” with the conversation. He added that it had created a “good backdrop” for future talks.

Paul Ayorinde