Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisis
Efrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
MOSCOW (AP) — With the risk of war looming larger, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held a high-stakes telephone call Saturday as a tense world watched and worried that an invasion of Ukraine could begin within days.
Before talking to Biden, Putin had a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with him in Moscow earlier in the week to try to resolve the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. A Kremlin summary of the call suggested that little progress was made toward cooling down the tensions.
The closely watched call between Biden and Putin began shortly after 11 a.m. and lasted just over an hour, according to the White House. Biden conducted the call from Camp David. There were no immediate details about the discussion.
In a sign that American officials were getting ready for a worst-case scenario, the United States announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital, and Britain joined other European nations in urging its citizens to leave Ukraine.
Russia has massed well over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus, but denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine.
The timing of any possible Russian military action remained a key question.
Read the full story:
More updates:
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisAlexei Nikolsky
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibly imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Alexei NikolskyRussian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibly imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainian activists attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. Placard on left reads: "Russian residents are not welcome in Ukraine". (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainian activists attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. Placard on left reads: "Russian residents are not welcome in Ukraine". (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisEfrem Lukatsky
Ukrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Efrem LukatskyUkrainians attend a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, during a protest against the potential escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden are to hold a high-stakes telephone call on Saturday as tensions over a possibility imminent invasion of Ukraine escalated sharply and the U.S. announced plans to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisSophie Wingate
Paul Meakin, his wife Svetlana and their daughter are photographed at London Gatwick Airport, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, after arriving from Kyiv, Ukraine. Britain on Saturday told its citizens to leave Ukraine. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC that U.K. troops that have been training the Ukrainian army also would leave the country. Germany and the Netherlands also called on their citizens to leave as soon as possible. (Sophie Wingate/PA via AP)
Sophie WingatePaul Meakin, his wife Svetlana and their daughter are photographed at London Gatwick Airport, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, after arriving from Kyiv, Ukraine. Britain on Saturday told its citizens to leave Ukraine. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC that U.K. troops that have been training the Ukrainian army also would leave the country. Germany and the Netherlands also called on their citizens to leave as soon as possible. (Sophie Wingate/PA via AP)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisAndrew Kravchenko
A man walks with his dog in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Andrew KravchenkoA man walks with his dog in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave. But it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
A military helicopter fires flying over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakA military helicopter fires flying over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
A military helicopter fires flying over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakA military helicopter fires flying over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisSUB
Armored vehicles move at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (BelTA via AP)
SUBArmored vehicles move at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (BelTA via AP)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
Soldiers work with their military vehicle at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakSoldiers work with their military vehicle at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
Two soldiers run at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakTwo soldiers run at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
Soldiers carry a supposedly wounded comrade at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakSoldiers carry a supposedly wounded comrade at the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisVadzim Yakubionak
Military jets fly over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
Vadzim YakubionakMilitary jets fly over the Gozhsky training ground during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus. Russia has massed troops near the Ukraine border and has sent troops to exercises in neighboring Belarus but insistently denies that it intends to launch an offensive against Ukraine. (Vadzim Yakubionak, BelTA via AP)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisAndrew Kravchenko
People walk past the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave, but it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Andrew KravchenkoPeople walk past the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave, but it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisAndrew Kravchenko
Russian and Ukrainian national flags are seen at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave, but it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Andrew KravchenkoRussian and Ukrainian national flags are seen at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the State Department plans to announce Saturday that virtually all American staff at the Kyiv embassy will be required to leave. The State Department would not comment. The department had earlier ordered families of U.S. embassy staffers in Kyiv to leave, but it had left it to the discretion of nonessential personnel if they wanted to depart. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
-
-
Putin, Biden conclude hourlong call on Ukraine crisisAndrew Kravchenko
The emblem of Russia is seen through the barbed wire on the building of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said her country had "optimized" staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
Andrew KravchenkoThe emblem of Russia is seen through the barbed wire on the building of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022. Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said her country had "optimized" staffing at its own embassy in Kyiv in response to concerns about possible military actions from the Ukrainian side. (AP Photo/Andrew Kravchenko)
