Biden and Putin accept Macron’s proposal for summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden have agreed in “principle” to hold a meeting to halt escalation of conflict in Ukraine, the Elysee Palace said in a statement on Sunday night.   

Emmanuel Macron “proposed a summit to be held between President Biden and President Putin and then with relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe,” according to the statement.   
“Presidents Biden and Putin have both accepted the principle of such a summit,” it added.   

However, such a meeting “can only be held at the condition that Russia does not invade Ukraine,” the Elysee palace added. The “substance” of the summit, should it take place, will be prepared by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting expected on Thursday, February 24. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that President Biden “accepted in principle a meeting with President     Putin....”   

In a call with Putin earlier on Sunday, Macron offered to mediate talks in the so-called Normandy Format “in the next few hours” to secure a ceasefire along the line of contact in the disputed region of Donbass in eastern Ukraine. 
Russia/US, (rt.com)
21 Feb, 2022