US president ‘voiced deep concerns’ of US, European allies about Russia’s escalation near Ukraine.
WASHINGTON (AA) – US President Joe Biden threatened to respond with “strong” economic measures if Russia escalates military aggression against Ukraine, the White House said Tuesday.
The threat came in a two-hour video call between Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, where they discussed a range of issues on the US-Russia agenda, the executive mansion said in a statement.
“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,” it said.
Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.
“The two presidents tasked their teams to follow up, and the U.S. will do so in close coordination with allies and partners,” said the statement.
The two leaders also “discussed the US-Russia dialogue on Strategic Stability, a separate dialogue on ransomware, as well as joint work on regional issues such as Iran,” it added.
The call came amid reports that Russia has recently been amassing thousands of troops near Ukraine’s border. Earlier, the White House said Biden would reaffirm the US’ support for “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
Biden is scheduled to talk to European allies later Tuesday. Biden will convene a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“On their call yesterday, the leaders agreed to stay in close touch on a coordinated and comprehensive approach in response to Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” the White House said in a separate statement as the video call was underway.
On Monday, the leaders discussed their shared concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and Russia’s increasingly harsh rhetoric.
“They called on Russia to de-escalate tensions and agreed that diplomacy, especially through the Normandy Format, is the only way forward to resolve the conflict in Donbas through the implementation of the Minsk Agreements,” the White House said in a statement.