Russo-Ukrainian War

He said that the population in the war-torn east of Ukraine, a zone that is currently at the center of new tensions between Moscow and the West, was affected by "Russophobia", which, in his words, is "the first step towards genocide".

"That option is not on the table. The idea that the United States will use force unilaterally to confront Russia in the event of its invasion of Ukraine is currently unrealistic. But if that invasion happens, there will be serious consequences," Biden told reporters outside the White House, reports the Voice of America.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked for about two hours on a secure video link on Tuesday amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, world media reported.

President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin were still far apart after two hours of talks on the escalating crisis caused by Russia's massing of tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine.

He warned of "strong economic and other countermeasures" that would follow if Moscow starts a military conflict, the White House said.

With Europe and the United States increasingly concerned over a buildup of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine, some Balkan countries are already offering their services in any potential US-led response to a possible Russian invasion.

They will discuss military tensions and other issues in Ukraine via a video link.
The U.S. President wants to talk with Putin about the deployment of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine, Reuters quoted an unnamed source from the American administration as saying, but also about strategic stability, cyber security and regional issues.

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Britain and the United States expressed "determination" during a phone call on Dec. 6 that Ukraine's sovereignty should be respected, the French presidency said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Dec. 3 he would make it "very, very difficult" for Russia to launch any invasion of Ukraine, which warned that a large-scale attack may be planned for next month.

Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, announced in Brussels that NATO notices an unusual concentration of Russian forces near the border with Ukraine, including tanks, artillery and drones.