BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- President Joseph Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 12th after the U.S. government claimed that Russia could "invade" Ukraine "at any time" within a few days.

The two talked for about an hour.

The media commented that there was no breakthrough in this call.

On the same day, Russian officials accused the United States of "hysterically" playing up the so-called "planned invasion" of Ukraine.

Data map: On December 7, 2021 local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video meeting with U.S. President Biden.

 U.S. warns again of war risk hype

  The White House wrote in a statement on the 12th that Biden warned Putin in a call that day that once Russia "further invades Ukraine", the United States and its allies will "resolutely respond and quickly make Russia pay a heavy price."

  The day before, US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan claimed that US intelligence showed that Russia may "invade" Ukraine by February 20.

A U.S. government official told The Associated Press that intelligence indicated that Russia had timed the invasion on the 16th.

  Biden said in a call with Putin that the U.S. is committed to a diplomatic end to the Ukraine crisis, but "will be prepared for other scenarios as well."

On the day of the call, the U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of most government employees from the U.S. embassy in Ukraine and urged U.S. citizens to leave Ukraine as soon as possible.

  A senior U.S. government official said the call was "professional and substantive" but failed to "fundamentally change" the development.

The two sides agreed to "maintain contact" for the next few days, but Russia could still move forward with military action.

  The United States and other Western countries continue to exaggerate that Russia has assembled a large number of troops in areas close to the Russian-Ukrainian border, and has the potential to "invade" Ukraine; Russia denies this claim.

Russia emphasizes that its own security space has been eroded, and it has the right to mobilize troops within its borders and has no intention of attacking other countries. At the same time, it requires the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to sign an agreement to give Russia security guarantees.

Data map: On October 28, 2018, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began to hold a two-week "Trident Junction 2018" joint military exercise in Norway and its surrounding areas on October 25.

 Russia satirizes U.S. hysteria as "adding fire"

  Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov said on the 12th that the leaders of Russia and the United States were scheduled to talk on the 14th, but they were held earlier at the request of the United States.

The call was "balanced and pragmatic," with Biden promising "to work on a diplomatic approach and to lay out a range of ideas that he believes address Russia's many concerns," but the U.S. and NATO did not consider Russia's main security concerns.

  The U.S. is "extremely hysterical" over the Ukraine issue, Ushakov said. "Everyone knows that U.S. officials claim that Russia is about to invade Ukraine," and even announced the specific time of the so-called invasion.

  He said that Putin pointed out in the call that the United States and its allies have been providing Ukraine with new weapons to "encourage it" and incite the Ukrainian army to launch provocations in the Donbass and Crimea regions.

Putin also said that Western countries have not exerted due pressure on Ukraine to promote its obligations under the Minsk agreement.

  Ushakov said the leaders of Russia and the United States agreed to continue contacts at all levels on all issues raised in the call.

  Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on the 12th that there are too many rumors that Russia may "invade" Ukraine and hope that those who spread such news will give solid evidence.

(Chen Dan)