Russian ministry: Preparations underway for Putin - Biden meeting

The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden requires thorough preparation, and it is currently underway, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Russia-1 TV, Report informs.

“We need thorough preparation for the contacts to take place, and we are doing it,” Ryabkov noted.

The Foreign Ministry official stressed that the agenda of the forthcoming meeting between the two presidents is quite extensive:

“There is a lot of controversy around Ukraine. There may be provocative actions by NATO forces near our borders, towards which we cannot stay indifferent.”

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier said video format was preferred for the Putin - Biden meeting, but everything would depend on the decisions of the heads of state.

According to Peskov, the exact date of the meeting is not known yet; it may take place before and after the New Year.