Biden and Macron “discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said in a statement.

 

U.S., France Hold Talks on Russia Forces Buildup: Ukraine Update

Members of the Ukrainian forces participate in an urban combat training exercise. Photographer: Ethan Swope/Bloomberg

Bloomberg News

6. Februar 2022, 09:06 MEZUpdated on6. Februar 2022, 22:43 MEZ

Listen to this article

6:59

Share this article

In this article

NG1

Generic 1st 'NG' Future

4.38

USD/MMBtu

-0.19-4.11%

TWTR

TWITTER INC

36.94

USD

+2.46+7.13%

With U.S. Army reinforcements deploying in Poland and Germany, President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron talked by phone about responding to Russia’s military buildup on the Ukrainian border, according to the White House. Macron is due to visit Moscow and Kyiv this week.

Ukraine’s defense minister said the probability of an escalation by Russia looks low, while an official close to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the West should specify potential sanctions. 

Moscow has repeatedly denied that it plans to attack Ukraine, while the U.K. and U.S. say Russia has massed almost 130,000 troops close to the border. Russia has decried the use of NATO forces near its borders. 

Key Developments

• Putin’s Financial Fortress Blunts Impact of Threatened Sanctions
• Putin Courts China’s Xi for Help in Showdown With the West
• Ukraine May Help Shore Up Its Market With Debt Buybacks
• What we know so far about potential U.S.-EU sanctions on Russia
• Where military forces are assembling around Russia and Ukraine

All times CET

Biden, Macron Hold Phone Call (10:19 p.m.)

U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron talked by phone on Sunday about how to deal with the standoff over Ukraine. The two leaders last spoke on Wednesday. 

Sponsored Content

The Dawn of a New Sustainable Investment Age in ASEAN

HSBC

Biden and Macron “discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said in a statement. 

U.S., France Discuss Strengthening NATO’s Flank (8:10 p.m.)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday discussed joint efforts to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and to ensure that Russia “understands the high costs it would incur if it were to invade Ukraine further,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

Macron and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, whose country is a NATO member that borders Russia, held a call to coordinate on Ukraine, according to Estonia’s government. Estonia and France have a shared view of the danger of the situation, and Russia must take concrete steps to reduce tension, according to the readout. 

Kallas welcomed efforts in the so-called Normandy talks involving Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France, which are “important to put pressure on Russia to abandon its military threat through diplomacy.”