US President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agree to crisis summit

Efforts to prevent the outbreak of a major land war in Europe have stepped up with US President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreeing ‘in principle’ to a crisis summit.

Efforts to prevent the outbreak of a major land war in Europe have stepped up with US President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreeing “in principle” to a crisis summit.

The precise agenda of the eleventh-hour talks brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron are yet to be finalised but following the announcement of the summit, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US was “committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins”.

US President Joe Biden is in talks to attend a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Denis Balibouse/AFP

Ms Psaki also noted Russia appeared to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine “very soon”.

“Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov are scheduled to meet later this week in Europe, provided Russia does not proceed with military action,” she said.

“President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin following that engagement, again, if an invasion hasn’t happened.

“We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has met with Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss the imminent threat of Russian invasion.

Ukraine has welcomed Australia’s offer of cyber security training to fend off Russian hackers but leaders have acknowledged the window for diplomacy to avert war in Europe was “narrowing”.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of a European Union security conference in Munich on Monday, where the pair discussed the unfolding crisis as Russian troops remain amassed on the Ukrainian border.

Across Ukraine, civilians are participating in volunteer groups to receive basic combat, medical and survival training. Picture: Gaelle Girbes/Getty Images

Overnight Australia joined the US and UK in publicly attributing cyber attacks against the Ukrainian banking sector on 15 and 16 February to the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU).

“The international community must not tolerate Russia’s misuse of cyberspace to undermine Ukraine’s national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity by seeking to disrupt essential services, businesses and community confidence,” a federal government statement said.

“Russia’s actions pose a significant risk to global economic growth and international stability.”
During their meeting, Mr Kuleba briefed Ms Payne on the current situation on the border, and noted the West‘s efforts to continue dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin even though the window for diplomacy was “narrowing”.

Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Ukraine. Picture: Gaelle Girbes/Getty Images

Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the country has little chance to fend off a full Russian invasion, Russian occupation troops would likely face a deep-rooted, decentralised and prolonged insurgency. Picture: Gaelle Girbes/Getty Images

The ministers discussed global sanctions against Russian aggression, which Australia is co-ordinating with its partners.

The agreement to the new cyber dialogue and further cyber security training was welcomed.

Ms Payne noted the Australian Government had publicly said it assessed the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate was responsible for the recent distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against Ukraine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was working “very closely” with European and NATO allies on what actions will be taken against Russia in response to ”threats of violence and intimidation” against Ukraine.

Mr Morrison said Australia “can‘t abide his authoritarian regimes threatening and intimidating their neighbours”.