‘Effective dialogue’ possible

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday told US counterpart Joe Biden he is "convinced" that "effective dialogue" between Moscow and Washington is possible, hours ahead of telephone talks as tensions rise over Ukraine.

Putin and Biden will hold their second telephone call in less than a month at 2030 GMT in the latest effort to defuse tensions surrounding Moscow's military build-up on the border with Ukraine.

"I am convinced that ... we can move forward and establish an effective Russian-American dialogue based on mutual respect and consideration of each other's national interests," Putin said, according to a Kremlin statement carrying his holiday messages to world leaders.

A senior US administration official told reporters that Biden will say "we are prepared for diplomacy and for a diplomatic path forward."

"But we are also prepared to respond if Russia advances with a further invasion of Ukraine," Biden will tell Putin, the official said, adding that "we continue to be gravely concerned" by Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.

The phone call comes ahead of talks between Russia and the United States in Geneva on January 10. Washington has led the charge in raising the alarm over Russian troop movements near ex-Soviet Ukraine and accusing Moscow of plotting a winter invasion of its neighbour.

Moscow has denied the charge and said it expects the West to agree to sweeping security demands it presented earlier this month. They said Nato must not admit new members and the United States cannot establish new military bases in former Soviet republics.

The talks in Geneva on Jan. 10 will be attended by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the Russian Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Russia is then set to hold talks with Nato in Brussels on Jan 12, before a broader meeting including Russia, the United States and other European countries on Jan 13, which Russia's foreign ministry said would take place in Vienna.