Today, Monday, President Vladimir Putin held an emergency meeting of the Russian National Security Council, in which he discussed the latest political, military and humanitarian developments related to the Ukrainian crisis, while Paris awaited his response regarding an upcoming summit with US President Joe Biden.
In his speech to the council members, the Russian president said that Russia faces a "very serious and big threat" against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis, considering that Kiev is not ready to join NATO.
Putin said that French President Emmanuel Macron had told him that the Ukrainian leadership was ready to implement the Minsk agreements.
In the same context, Putin said he was studying the request of the separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk to be recognized as independent republics.
On Monday, the leaders of the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine called on the Russian president to recognize their independence and establish "defense cooperation."
This coordinated call, which was broadcast on Russian television, was launched by the leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin and the leader of the "Luhansk People's Republic" Leonid Pasechnik.
If Russia takes this step, it could pave the way for Moscow to send military forces to both regions, under the pretext that it is interfering as an ally, to protect them from Ukraine.
time is running out
For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the West rejected Moscow's basic proposals, including ensuring that NATO does not expand to the east, saying that "our demand not to strengthen the security of countries at the expense of other countries is being ignored."
Lavrov revealed an upcoming meeting with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken in Geneva next Thursday.
Summit awaits resolution
For its part, the French presidency clarified today, Monday, that holding a summit between US Presidents Joe Biden and Russian Vladimir to discuss the Ukraine crisis is possible, but that Putin must make his decision on whether to hold it.
The Elysee added that it is possible to move towards holding a summit bringing together the parties concerned with the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, stressing that the situation is still very dangerous.
Paris also said that the foreign ministers of the two countries will attend the summit during their meeting scheduled for next Thursday, provided that this summit will be followed by an expanded summit that will discuss issues of security and strategic stability in Europe.
The White House has confirmed President Joe Biden's acceptance of a summit with Putin unless there is a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Diplomatic race
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was committed to pursuing a diplomatic path until Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
She added that she is always ready for diplomacy, but is also ready to impose severe and rapid sanctions if Russia chooses war.
The White House said that Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a large-scale attack on Ukraine very soon.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there are currently no plans to hold a meeting between Presidents Putin and Biden.
At the same time, Peskov did not rule out the possibility of contacts between the two presidents at any moment when necessary, whether by phone or through a personal meeting.
For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba affirmed his country's support for holding a summit between Biden.
In Europe, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the Union supports the initiative to hold talks between Washington and Moscow on Ukraine.
Reuters also quoted a German government spokesman as saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will speak by phone with the Russian President.