Should Biden Call Putin?

Is The Biden Administration serious about saving Russian and Ukrainian lives?

Okay, Putin and his regime are the most evil mafiosos the modern world has ever seen. Moving on.

Why can’t Biden call Putin? It’s a question all Americans should ask themselves.

These were the conditions Russia wanted met to prevent an invasion. Is it too much for every American to read these and decide for themselves? The current stakes are at least 500 casualties a day, millions homeless.

Article 1: the parties should not strengthen their security at the expense of Russia’s security;

Article 2: the parties will use multilateral consultations and the NATO-Russia Council to address points of conflict;

Article 3: the parties reaffirm that they do not consider each other as adversaries and maintain a dialogue;

Article 4: the parties shall not deploy military forces and weaponry on the territory of any of the other states in Europe in addition to any forces that were deployed as of May 27, 1997;

Article 5: the parties shall not deploy land-based intermediate- and short-range missiles adjacent to the other parties;

Article 6: all member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization commit themselves to refrain from any further enlargement of NATO, including the accession of Ukraine as well as other States;

Article 7: the parties that are member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shall not conduct any military activity on the territory of Ukraine as well as other States in the Eastern Europe, in the South Caucasus and in Central Asia; and

Article 8: the agreement shall not be interpreted as affecting the primary responsibility of the Security Council of the United Nations for maintaining international peace and security.

For me, Article 3 is where the rubber meets the road. Russia peacefully gave up Berlin. It peacefully decomposed the Soviet Union. The CCP on the other hand, mowed down kids in Tiananmen Square (just for some perspective). I know you hate to hear this (I hate to believe it) but our $1 trillion defense industry doesn’t mind if we antagonize Russia.

We have a $1 trillion conflict of interest.

Anyway, I’ll stop rehashing all that.

Biden could call Putin today. The argument that you don’t negotiate with terrorists rings sad and hollow in my ears. The are thousands of people dying. Does a phone call change the war? Does it give Putin some political advantage? Maybe. But so what?

If you care about human life you keep trying to talk. You talk to the guy in charge no matter what you may think of him.

If a reporter asked Biden why he didn’t call Putin directly, please put the link in the comments.

This is all we know about Biden’s February 12th call with Putin. From the White House:

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia about Russia’s escalating military buildup on the borders of Ukraine. President Biden was clear that, if Russia undertakes a further invasion of Ukraine, the United States together with our Allies and partners will respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs on Russia. President Biden reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia’s standing. President Biden was clear with President Putin that while the United States remains prepared to engage in diplomacy, in full coordination with our Allies and partners, we are equally prepared for other scenarios.

There is no mention of the eight articles, or anything of any substance.