Western leaders urge Russia to ease tensions with Ukraine
Ahead of a video call between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Western powers have urged Russia to reduce tensions with Ukraine.
In response to fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Biden agreed with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany to "use all available resources."
Moscow has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating "Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia's intelligence have been made more than once.
''Russia has mobilized thousands of troops along Ukraine's eastern border, and Ukraine says tanks have been deployed to the front lines inside its territory''.
Talks at 3 p.m., Greenwich Mean Time, suggest that Washington is considering tougher economic sanctions rather than a military response.
After a conference call on Monday, the White House said the five Western leaders had agreed on a joint strategy that would cause "huge and severe damage" to Russia's economy if Russian troops entered Ukraine. Will be delivered. '
He reiterated his support for Ukraine's "geographical security," according to a statement from the British Prime Minister's Office, Downing Street.
Possible measures, according to reports, include restrictions on Russian banks converting currency into currency and disconnecting Russia from the global payment system Swift.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, the Russian presidency, called speculation about the Russian attack "absurd and baseless."
Russia wants assurances that Ukraine will not seek to retake territories seized by pro-Russian separatists in 2014. It has also warned the West not to try to cross the "red line" by joining Ukraine's NATO alliance.
More than 90,000 Russian troops are believed to be on Ukraine's borders.
The largest gathering of Russian troops is in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine and annexed in 2014.
In addition, troops are gathering in the Donbass region, which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Ukrainian officials say Russia could plan a military strike by the end of January. The Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that heavy weapons, including tanks, artillery and snipers, were being delivered to rebel-held areas.
More than 14,000 people have been killed since pro-Russian forces took control of eastern Ukraine seven years ago.
The US and Russian presidents met in Geneva last June, but little progress has been made on issues other than sending ambassadors to each other's countries and reaching a consensus on nuclear weapons control.
Russian spokesman Peskov said the Russian president would "listen carefully" to the US president's proposals on Ukraine.
He added,''There is only one way to reduce tension''.That is to understand how Kiev (Ukraine) can be prevented from resolving the Donbass issue by force. "
''Washington's response would depend on Moscow's actions'', US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
''If Russia does not want to reduce tensions, if Russia wants to carry out its military offensive plans or aggress against Ukraine in order to undermine its sovereignty, sovereignty and territorial integrity'', then we and our allies must respond. We will be ready to respond with full determination.