US and Russia Face Deep Differences Ahead of Ukraine Talks

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 16: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) greets US President Joe Biden (R) during the US – Russia Summit 2021 at the La Grange Villa near the Geneva Lake, on June 16, 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland. U.S.President Joe Biden is meeting Russian President Putin in Geneva for the first time as presidents, on Wednesday. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – After tough talk between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin over the Russian troop buildup on the Ukraine border, both sides insist they are hopeful that a pathway to easing tensions could open during diplomatic talks set for January. But with less than two weeks to go before senior U.S. and Russian officials are to meet in Geneva, the chasm is deep and the prospect of finding an exit to the crisis faces no shortage of complications. Biden told reporters Friday that he advised Putin the upcoming talks could only work if the Russian leader “deescalated, not escalated” the situation in the days ahead.