Earlier this week, reports broke that Joe Biden was going to hold a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
With Russia now reportedly having sent in peacekeeper troops to Eastern Ukraine, that summit has been called off.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the reports this week as well.
Not Happening
When the reports of the summit first broke, it had been stated that one of the conditions of the summit was there be no invasion of Ukraine.
Biden had earlier aggressively defined an invasion as any troop or military equipment that moved across the border.
By that definition, Putin’s “peacekeeping” forces would have to be considered an invasion.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the summit was “certainly not in the plans” now that Putin made his first move.
She added, “We’re never going to completely close the door to diplomacy.
“Diplomacy can’t succeed unless Russia changes course.”
Putin has since come forward stating that he would welcome a diplomatic solution, but he also stated that he would not put his country’s security at risk to do so.
Sources: Washington Examiner & The Hill
