WATCH: Biden call with Putin gets off to awkward start as US president fumbles with microphone

The moment subtracted from the tension that would normally precipitate such a call, which comes as Ukraine’s government and many international analysts have warned that a Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian border is the pretense for invasion.

In video of the call first published by the Daily Mail, Mr Biden is seen greeting Mr Putin off-mic before adjusting his microphone and exclaiming, “Hello!” and laughing. Clips of the first few minutes of the call were obtained by Russian media outlets, but the call itself was not made public in full.

Biden struggles to turn on his microphone during his meet with Putin pic.twitter.com/oFJWjlrTrR

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The White House released a readout of the conversation shortly after it occurred, stating that it covered a “range of issues on the U.S.-Russia agenda”.

“President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation. President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” read the White House’s description of the call.

The vow by the president stopped short of threatening military action if Ukraine should be invaded, a possibility which Ukraine’s government has sought in its efforts to join the NATO alliance.

Tuesday’s awkwardness underscored the continued difficulties many are experiencing in conducting official business with new technologies that became commonplace amid the Covid-19 pandemic, though calls between the White House and foreign leaders were common before the pandemic .

Mr Biden added to his Russian counterpart during the meeting that he hoped the two would meet in person for their next conversation, according to the clip obtained by the Mail.

“President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation. President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy,” read the White House’s description of the call.

The vow by the president stopped short of threatening military action if Ukraine should be invaded, a possibility which Ukraine’s government has sought in its efforts to join the NATO alliance.

Tuesday’s awkwardness underscored the continued difficulties many are experiencing in conducting official business with new technologies that became commonplace amid the Covid-19 pandemic, though calls between the White House and foreign leaders were common before the pandemic .

Mr Biden added to his Russian counterpart during the meeting that he hoped the two would meet in person for their next conversation, according to the clip obtained by the Mail.