![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.capitalfm.co.ke\/news\/files\/2021\/12\/2b09602f3275d5440b334e8c87211d95466cd62d.jpg\")
Map of Ukraine locating regions under separatist control and the Crimea, annexed by Russia \u00a9 AFP<\/b><\/p><\/div>\n
Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has since backed separatists fighting Kiev in the east of the country. The conflict has left more than 13,000 dead.<\/p>\n
Moscow meanwhile wants to see an end to NATO’s eastward expansion, after much of eastern Europe joined the alliance following the collapse of the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday called on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide “security guarantees” that NATO would not come closer to Russia’s borders.<\/p>\n
Despite increased contacts between the two rivals since Putin and Biden met for the first time at a summit in Geneva in June, tensions remain high.<\/p>\n
As well as the Ukraine conflict, Russia and the United States continue to argue over cyberattacks and the staffing of their embassies, after several waves of diplomatic expulsions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Moscow (AFP), Dec 5 – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden will hold talks by video conference on Tuesday, the Kremlin and Washington said, as tensions rise over Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Saturday the conversation would take place in the evening Russia time and the two leaders would determine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12327,"featured_media":633521,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2284,2393,2515,2667],"coauthors":[141],"class_list":["post-652596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-biden","tag-russia","tag-usa","tag-vladimir-putin"],"yoast_head":"\n