Baghdad Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his American counterpart Joe Biden against imposing any sanctions on his country, considering this a grave mistake, while Biden threatened a strong response by the United States to any invasion of Ukraine.

After a 50-minute phone call between them, the second in three weeks, the two presidents indicated their support for the diplomatic process to solve the crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking at a virtual press conference, Yury Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, said Putin was generally comfortable with the call.

Ushakov said, “During the call, Biden discussed the possibility of the United States imposing significant sanctions on Russia in the event that tension continues to escalate over Ukraine.”

He stressed, “Russia is looking forward to tangible results in the January talks in Geneva, while the White House also called for actions and de-escalation by Russia at the Ukrainian border.”

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement: “Biden has made it clear to the Russian president that the United States, with its allies and partners, will respond decisively in the event of a further invasion of Ukraine by Russia.”

Psaki added: “President Biden emphasized that substantive progress in these discussions can only occur in an environment of de-escalation, not escalation.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency