Biden ‘prepared’ to talk with Putin if serious about ending war in Ukraine

President Joe Biden said Thursday he’s open to talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin about bringing an end to the war in Ukraine but only if the Russian leader is serious about peace negotiations.

“The fact of the matter is I have no immediate plans to contact Mr. Putin,” Biden told reporters as he stood alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint news conference.

“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he’s looking for a way to end the war,” Biden said. “He hasn’t done that yet. If that’s the case, in consultation with my French and my NATO friends, I’ll be happy to sit down with Putin to see what he wants, has in mind. He hasn’t done that yet.”

Biden and Macron pledged to work together to hold Russia accountable and mitigate the war’s impact on the rest of the world.

“We’ll continue the strong support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their homes and families and their sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression, which has been incredibly brutal,” Biden said. “I knew Russia was, but didn’t anticipate it to be as brutal as it was.”

Macron told reporters the U.S. and France “clearly condemn” Russia’s “war crimes.”

Speaking to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Macron said he believes negotiation is still “possible” with Putin to end Russia’s invasion and that he was going to speak to Putin “in the coming days.” Macron previously held a call with Putin in March, but said there was nothing reassuring about the conversation.

“A good peace is not a peace which will be imposed to the Ukrainians by others, No. 1,” Macron told Stephanopoulos, adding, “A good peace is not a peace which will not be accepted on the mid-to-long run by one of the two parties.”

Macron’s state visit this week is the first of the Biden administration, and will culminate with a dinner on the South Lawn Thursday night in a candlelit pavilion.

“The design of this dinner was inspired by the shared colors of our flags — red, white and blue — and our common values: liberty and democracy, equality and fellowship,” Jill Biden said Wednesday as she previewed the event. “These form the bedrock upon which our enduring friendship was built.”

Ahead of the state dinner, the two families dined in Washington on Wednesday night before a…