Biden warns Putin of ‘severe costs’ of Ukraine invasion

US President Joe Biden has told Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a video call that Washington and its allies would respond “decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine. Moscow has rejected the US claims that it is preparing to invade Ukraine.  

Biden and Putin's one-hour talk on Saturday is the latest communication between the two countries at the highest level.

Media reported that Biden and Putin spoke on phone amid Moscow's warnings that allegations of a Russian invasion of Ukraine were merely US anti-Russia propaganda aimed at provoking conflict.

Kremlin: West’s warnings of imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine reach absurd levels

The Kremlin scoffs at the West

On behalf of the US president, the White House tweeted, "President Biden spoke with President Vladimir Putin today to make clear that if Russia further invades Ukraine, the US and our allies will impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden urged President Putin to engage in de-escalation and diplomacy instead."

The Biden-Putin call began at 11:04 a.m. Eastern time (1604 GMT) and ended at 12:06 p.m., a White House official said.

Meanwhile, Politico journal on Saturday cited US intelligence sources suggesting Russia could attack Ukraine on Feb. 16.

Moscow, however, said Washington was waging a "propaganda campaign" against Russia while implementing a provocative plan of action with the aim of triggering a conflict over the eastern Ukraine crisis.

Russia says US seeking to provoke Ukraine conflict

Foreign Minister Lavrov has accused the US of seeking to provoke a conflict in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the US State Department on Saturday moved to begin evacuating its staff at the embassy in Ukraine's capital, Kiev.

Some embassy staff may be allowed to remain in the Ukrainian capital; however, the majority will be sent out or relocated to Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland, so the US can retain its diplomatic presence in the country.

US to evacuate Ukraine embassy amid fears of Russian invasion

The US is to order the evacuation of its Ukraine embassy amid accusations of a possible Russian invasion of its neighbor.

The State Department on Friday had called on all US citizens to get out of the country within 48 hours. The Pentagon said it was withdrawing about 150 military trainers from Ukraine.

In related news, USA Today on Saturday linked the Ukraine conflict to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, running directly from Russia to Germany under the Balkan Sea.  

In an article titled, 'Wakeup call for Americans': Russia, Ukraine in behind-the-scenes lobbying war over Nord Stream 2, the paper reported that canceling the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline had become a pivotal part of the US’s foreign policy strategy to stop the alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russian and Ukrainian interests paid millions of dollars to US lobbyists over the past two years to try to influence US policy-makers on Nord Stream 2, the completed but not-yet-operational pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany, according to the paper.

Nord Stream 2, upon completion, will strip Ukraine of billions of dollars of income obtained for transferring Russian gas to Europe.

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