Thread by @jseldin

HAPPENING NOW: @POTUS talks #Russia after slapping #Moscow with what US officials described as sweeping sanctions for a variety of malign activities

"Earlier this week, I spoke w/President Putin of #Russia about the nature of our relationship" per @POTUS "I was candid & respectful. The conversation was candid & respectful - 2 great powers w/significant responsibility..."

"#Russia|ns & Americans are both proud & patriotic people" per @POTUS "And I believe the Russian ppl, like the American ppl, are invested in the peaceful & secure future of our world"

"Elections are sacred. They are sovereign undertakings and the expression of the will of the American ppl" adds @POTUS "We cannot allow a foreign power to interfere in our democratic process w/impunity"

"We concluded that they had interfered in the election, & #SolarWinds was totally inappropriate" per @POTUS, who said he told #Russia's Putin that US was going to respond

Steps taken today, including the expulsion of #Russia|n officials, and new sanctions, is a consequence, for #Moscow's electing meddling & #cyber activity, per @POTUS

"I was clear w/President Putin - we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so. I chose to be proportionate" says @POTUS

"The #UnitedStates is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation & conflict w/#Russia" he adds "We want a stable, predictable relationship"

Warning from @POTUS: "If #Russia continues to interfere w/our democracy, I'm prepared to take further actions to respond..."

"Throughout our long history of competition, our two countries have been able to find ways to manage tensions & to keep them from escalating out of control" per @POTUS

"There are also areas where #Russia & the #UnitedStates can & should work together" such as #NewSTART

"When I spoke to President Putin, I expressed my belief that communication btw the 2 of us, personally & directly, was to be essential in moving forward" per @POTUS

"He [Putin] agreed on that point"

Discussion btw US, #Russia on summit underway right now, per @POTUS

"Out of that summit, were it to occur, & I believe it will, the UnitedStates & Russia could launch a strategic stability dialogue to pursue cooperation on arms control & security"

"We could address critical global challenges that require Russia & the #UnitedStates to work together" per @POTUS "including reining in nuclear threats from #Iran & #NorthKorea, ending this pandemic globally, and meeting the existential crisis of #climatechange" per @POTUS

"I also made clear to President Putin that the #UnitedStates is unwavering in our support of our allies and partners in Europe" per @POTUS, who said he expressed concern about #Russia's military build-up in #Crimea, along #Ukraine border

"I strongly urged him [Putin] to refrain from any military action" @POTUS says, re #Ukraine

"Now is the time to deescalate" Biden says "The way forward is through thoughtful dialogue & diplomatic processes"

"My bottom line is this: where it is in the interest of the #UnitedStates to work w/#Russia, we should & we will" per @POTUS

"Where Russia seeks to violate the interests of the United States, we will respond"

Asked if #Russia's Putin gave any indication he would be willing to change course, @POTUS says, "We indicated we would talk about it"

.@POTUS says he has made clear to #Putin that if he & #Russia were engaged in "activities that he had been accused of...that I would respond in kind"

On #NordStream2, @POTUS says, "It's a complicated issue... I've been opposed to NordStream2 for a long time"