Biden speaks with five European leaders ahead of Putin call

U.S. President Joe Biden coordinated positions with the leaders of Britain, Italy, Germany, and France ahead of his talks with Vladimir Putin scheduled for Tuesday.

The White House said the leaders of the five Western powers had spoken over the phone on Monday, Ukrinform reports.

"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 wrote in a statement.

Also, the leaders underscored their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“They agreed that their teams will stay in close touch, including in consultation with NATO allies and EU partners, on a coordinated and comprehensive approach,” the statement says.

According to the Elysee Palace, the leaders of the five western powers shared their views on growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. They expressed commitment to peace and security in Europe and recalled that Russia should resume talks with Ukraine in the framework of the Normandy Four under the auspices of France and Germany.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to have a video call via a secure line on Tuesday, December 7.

In this context, the White House said that, before speaking with Putin, President Biden would coordinate positions with America’s key allies in Europe.

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