Russia warns US that diplomatic relations on verge of breaking down

Moscow: Moscow has warned that relations with the US are ‘on the verge of a breakdown,’ and has summoned the US ambassador to officially protest President Joe Biden’s description of Vladimir Putin as a ‘murderous dictator.’

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement this week referred to Biden’s “recent unacceptable statements” about Putin, referring to Biden’s criticism of the Russian president for his invasion of Ukraine last week.

The Russian government met with US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan and stated that’remarks such as these by the American President, which are unworthy of a state figure of such a high rank, put Russian-American relations on the verge of a breach.’

Last week, Biden called Putin a “murderous dictator, a thug waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine.”

He had previously referred to Putin as a “war criminal,” which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as “absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable.”

Biden spent nearly speaking with Western allies – President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom – ahead of his trip.

The summons was a sign that relations between Washington and Moscow are deteriorating as the Kremlin continues its invasion of Ukraine and the United States and its western allies tighten the economic noose around Russia in response.

The five men will also attend an emergency NATO summit on Ukraine and a G7 meeting in Brussels on Thursday. He will also attend a European Council meeting to discuss Ukraine, ‘including transatlantic efforts to impose economic costs on Russia, provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence, and address other challenges related to the conflict,’ according to the White House.

Poland will propose a plan to organise an international peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the NATO meeting. Poland has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees, with 3.2 million fleeing the war-torn country.

However, the US has rejected the idea of peacekeeping, stating that President Biden will stick to his pledge not to put US troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials are talking, but no progress has been made toward a cease-fire.

Delegations from Ukraine and Russia have held several rounds of talks, both in person and more recently via video link.