President Joe Biden plans to talk by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin today as the U.S. and its allies raise alarm about Russia’s troop buildup on the Ukraine border, and ahead of further talks planned for January on NATO expansion in eastern Europe.
Here’s what Bloomberg Government is tracking for Thursday.
Biden’s Agenda:
President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss topics by phone today “including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement.
The talks follow a Dec. 7 phone exchange in which Biden affirmed a commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and warned that any Russian aggression would be met with unprecedented economic penalties. The U.S. has told European allies that the massive Russian military presence close to Ukraine may be preparation for an invasion as early as next month.
The U.S. remains gravely concerned about the buildup, a senior Biden administration official said yesterday, and it’s prepared to provide Ukraine with further assistance should Russia invade. Russia denies plans for a military operation but has warned NATO against crossing “red lines” by stationing offensive weapons in Ukraine.
Today’s conversation, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Washington time, was requested by Russia, according...
IBM reached a settlement with the federal government on Friday, agreeing to pay roughly $17 million to resolve allegations of illegal diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Acting Attorney Gen...