Washington, Feb 3 : US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron during a telephone call discussed Russia’s military activity near its border with Ukraine and the two leaders agreed to stay in close consultations, including with NATO and EU partners, on a common approach to address the matter, the White House said. Earlier in the day, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional US forces to Poland, Germany, and Romania in the next few days. US officials said the deployment is designed to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank amid the Ukraine crisis. “President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France regarding Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” the White House said in a press release on Wednesday.
“The two leaders affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reviewed our ongoing coordination on both diplomacy and preparations to impose swift and severe economic costs on Russia should it further invade Ukraine.” The White House further said Biden and Macron agreed the two sides will stay in close touch, including in consultation with NATO and EU partners, on a coordinated approach to managing the situation at hand. The precarious situation around Ukraine has worsened over the past several months after Russia was accused of building up troops near the Ukrainian border and allegedly preparing for an invasion. Moscow has denied the accusations, pointing to NATO’s military activity near Russian borders, which it deems a threat to its national security. Moscow has also said Russia has the right to move troops within its national territory and that it is not threatening anyone.
Russia has also warned Western countries that military deliveries to Kiev may encourage the latter to use them against the breakaway Russian-speaking region of Donbas. The United States has been in the process of delivering $200 million worth of security assistance approved by President Joe Biden in December.
