Biden and Putin square off for two-hour call as Ukraine tensions mount

Mr Putin came into the meeting seeking guarantees from Mr Biden that the Nato military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership

Russian President Vladimir Putin during his talks with US President Joe Biden (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin have squared off in a two-hour video call as the US president put Moscow on notice that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring enormous harm to the Russian economy.

The highly anticipated call between the two leaders came amid growing worries by the US and western allies of a Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.