Biden warns Putin of ‘strong’ Western response to any Ukraine attack

US President Joe Biden warned President Vladimir Putin in a tense, two hour virtual summit today of a “strong” Western economic response should Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s border go on the attack.

“President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European allies about Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the US and our allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation,” the White House says in a statement after the video conference.

Biden stressed “support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” the statement says.

According to the White House, Biden and Putin agreed that their respective teams would “follow up” on the summit, underlining that the next US move would be “in close coordination with allies and partners.”