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A phone discussion on Thursday between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “did not go well,” according to a senior Ukrainian official, amid disputes regarding the “risk levels” of a Russian strike.
However, the White House rejected the official’s claim, saying that anonymous sources were “leaking lies.” They did say that Biden had informed Zelensky that an invasion was a “certain probability.”
On the phone, which the Ukrainian source characterized as “long and forthright,” Biden told his Ukrainian colleague that a Russian strike was possible, stating that an invasion was now essentially probable after the ground froze later in February.
However, Zelensky reiterated his opinion that Russia’s threat remains “serious but vague,” and it is not clear that an assault would take place, according to the source.
Emily Horne, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, contradicted the senior Ukrainian official’s account of the call. “Falsehoods are being ‘leaked’ by anonymous sources,” she said. “President Biden has openly stated that there is a distinct potential that the Russians would attack Ukraine in February; we have been warning about this for months; any reports to the contrary are entirely untrue.”
The candid debate between the two leaders comes as the United States and NATO continue to gird for a Russian invasion. Despite emphasizing the need for diplomacy, the White House has cautioned that an invasion is possible, with tens of thousands of Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s border.
According to a US national security official, the talk lasted an hour and 20 minutes on Thursday, showing the numerous topics the two presidents had to discuss amid Russia’s troop increase. The discussion was “long and serious,” but “constructive,” according to the official, as Biden and Zelensky reviewed Russia’s recent aggressions.
According to the person, Biden informed Zelensky that US experts believe an invasion may occur in February, but did not guarantee it.
