Biden and Putin spoke on Saturday – the two agreed to stay engaged in the days ahead

Axios with the report of the latest (confirmed) developments (there are plenty of unconfirmed rumours doing the round this weekend).

• Presidents Biden and Putin spoke for just over an hour

Via a senior administration official:

Biden said

• U.S. and allies will “respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs” if Russia invades Ukraine
• Russia would face “severe economic costs” and “irrevocable reputational damage caused by taking innocent lives for a bloody war,”

The official added:

• the White House sensed “no fundamental change” in Russia’s posture from the last several weeks
• The two sides agreed to stay engaged in the coming days … but cautioned that Russia may decide to invade anyway.

More at that link above.

Happier days: