Biden, Putin agree ‘in principle’ to Macron-brokered Ukraine summit

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, their French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.

The summit aims to offer a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades.

The office of the French leader said in a statement he had pitched to both leaders a summit on “security and strategic stability in Europe”. The White House replied in a statement that Biden had accepted the meeting “in principle” but only “if an invasion hasn’t happened.”

“We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in the statement.

“We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war.” Psaki added.

The proposed summit was announced after a volley of phone calls between Macron, Biden, Putin, Zelensky, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Many details about the summit are not clear. A Biden administration official said in an email that the summit was “completely notional” as the timing and format is yet to be determined.