WASHINGTON, 08 December 2021, (TON): US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held two hours of virtual talks on Ukraine and other disputes amid Western fears that Moscow is poised to invade its southern neighbour.

Russian TV footage showed Biden and Putin greeting each other in a friendly manner at the start of what was expected to be a tense exchange. Biden told Putin he hoped their next meeting would be in person.

The White House issued a statement saying the talks had started, but did not display any visuals from the secure 'Situation Room' where Biden was located.

According to the White House “the two leaders talked for two hours and one minute.”

The Kremlin has said “it hopes the two leaders can hold an in-person summit to discuss what it has described as the lamentable state of US-Russia relations, which have sunk to their lowest since the end of the Cold War.”

US officials said before the video conference that Biden would tell Putin that Russia and its banks could be hit with the toughest economic sanctions yet if it attacks Ukraine.