Since then, as many as 100,000 Russian troops have remained amassed at the Ukrainian border, despite warnings from Biden and European leaders of serious consequences should Putin move ahead with an invasion. US officials also say Moscow is engaged in a massive disinformation campaign meant to undermine Ukraine’s government ahead of that country’s national elections.
Biden hoped Thursday’s phone call, which the White House said began at 3:35 p.m. ET and ended 50 minutes later, would yield more progress in easing tensions. US officials said he would tell Putin a pathway exists to avoid conflict — and by extension avert the withering economic sanctions the West is poised to levy should Russian troops move over the border.
Biden conducted the call from his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Ahead of the discussion on Thursday, the US Air Force flew another spy plane over eastern Ukraine to…
