Joe Biden tells Vladimir Putin US won't 'roll over' for Russia anymore - Sky News

President Biden has said he told Vladimir Putin the days of the US "rolling over" for Russia are over.

It comes as he seeks to move on from Donald Trump's foreign policy, seen as too close to Russia by many.

In a speech at the State Department, Mr Biden said: "America is back. Diplomacy is back."

The president said that during his call with Mr Putin last month he brought up subjects such as election interference, alleged Russian bounties offered to Taliban fighters to kill US troops, and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny.

"I made it clear to President Putin in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning citizens are over," Mr Biden said.

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Image: Mr Biden, pictured here with the Russian president in 2011, said he told his counterpart things were changing

He said his government would "not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests" and be "more effective in dealing with Russia when we work in coalition and coordination with other like-minded partners".

Mr Biden's talk touched on a range of other issues.

More from Joe Biden

He said the annual refugee cap for the US would be increased to 125,000 - after Donald Trump had reduced it to just 15,000.

On China, he said he would "take on directly the challenges posed (to) our prosperity, security and democratic values by our most serious competitor".

Image: Joe Biden was making his first speech at the State Department as president

Mr Biden said his administration would confront China's "economic abuses" and "push back China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance".

But the 46th president also said he was ready to work with Beijing when it was in America's interest.

Mr Biden also seems unlikely to follow through with Mr Trump's plan to withdraw around 9,500 of America's 34,500 troops in Germany.

While his predecessor was antagonistic towards NATO and criticised countries for not contributing enough, Mr Biden is seeking to rebuild the alliances.

President Biden also announced the end of support for Saudi Arabia's forces in the devastating civil war in Yemen.

Mr Biden said during his election campaign that he wanted to use diplomacy to end the conflict between the Saudi-backed government and Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

"The war has created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe. "This war has to end," he told diplomats at the State Department on Thursday.

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Yemen: The analysis of a war crime

The United Nations has described Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with 80% of people in need of aid, and demanded more answers in light of a Sky News report last month.

It puts the total estimated death toll at 233,000, including 131,000 from indirect causes such as a lack of food and health services.

America has helped the Saudis since 2015, which the White House had said was to try to prevent civilian casualties.

Donald Trump designated the Houthis in Yemen a terrorist organisation in one of his final acts, something the UN said could push the country further into disaster.

It said Yemen faced "a large-scale famine on a scale that we have not seen for nearly 40 years".

While the UK is not part of the Saudi-led coalition, the government has been accused by opposition MPs of "turning a blind eye" by continuing to sell weapons to Riyadh.

Mr Biden also used his first State Department visit as president to again urge Myanmar's military to relinquish power and release officials who have been detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

And ahead of the speech, national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced there would be a presidential memorandum to protect LGBT+ people worldwide.

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2021-02-04 23:03:45Z
CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2pvZS1iaWRlbi10by13aXRoZHJhdy11cy1zdXBwb3J0LWZvci1zYXVkaS1sZWQtY29hbGl0aW9uLWluLXllbWVuLTEyMjA4ODA40gFpaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2pvZS1iaWRlbi10by13aXRoZHJhdy11cy1zdXBwb3J0LWZvci1zYXVkaS1sZWQtY29hbGl0aW9uLWluLXllbWVuLTEyMjA4ODA4