Biden in call to press Putin to de-escalate Ukraine crisis

By AAMER MADHANI
Associated Press

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak by phone on Thursday about the Russian troop buildup near Ukraine. It’s a new round of leader-to-leader talks that come as the Kremlin has stepped up its calls for security guarantees and test fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands. The White House indicates Biden will make clear to Putin a diplomatic path remains open, with talks between senior U.S. and Russian officials scheduled for next month in Geneva. The Russians have moved an estimated 100,000 troops toward Ukraine, and Putin has stepped up his demands for security guarantees precluding NATO from expanding to Ukraine.