The two talked together on Sunday, the White House informs.
“President Biden made it clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond firmly if Russia invades Ukraine further,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
In the conversation, the two presidents also both have supported continued diplomacy.
Russia has marched over 100,000 troops along the border with Ukraine, and there has been great uncertainty in recent weeks about what will happen next.
On Christmas Eve, Biden had a 50-minute telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation. This will now be followed up with further bilateral talks and through dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council and in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Zelensky thanks
In the conversation with Zelenskyj, Biden is said to have emphasized that none of this should happen behind the back of Ukraine.
– This year’s first international conversation with the President of the United States proves our special relationship. Joint efforts by Ukraine, the United States and partners to preserve peace in Europe, prevent further escalation, and reform and deoligarization were discussed. We appreciate the unwavering support for Ukraine, Zelenskyj wrote on Twitter after Sunday’s phone call.
On January 9 and 10, envoys from the United States and Russia will meet in Geneva to discuss the Ukraine conflict. Russia and NATO are due to hold separate talks on 12 January.
Accusing each other
The United States and Western allies have for many weeks been concerned about reports that Russia has deployed around 100,000 troops in areas near the border with Ukraine, which has sparked fears of a Russian invasion of the country.
Russia denies the allegations and points out that Ukraine has moved troops to eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are in control.
Biden warned Putin in Thursday’s conversation that the consequences will be serious if Russia invades Ukraine, while Putin warned Biden against imposing more sanctions on Russia.
Russian authorities have described the presence of soldiers near Ukraine’s border as being there as protection against NATO enlargement.
NATO formally opened the way for Ukraine to join the alliance in 2008, but nothing has happened since.
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