Fear of Russian invasion of Ukraine, unusual video call from Biden and Vladimir Putin
US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have held an extraordinary video conference on the escalating tensions in Ukraine.
Tensions are rising on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia and fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are being raised. Russia has sent thousands of troops to the border, but insists it has no plans to invade Ukraine.
Russia does not want Ukraine to join NATO, but Western powers say Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected.
According to the White House, the talks between the two presidents began at 3:07 p.m., local time.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, the conversation took place over a secure video link established in the past which has never been used.
In the video of the early moments of the conversation, the two leaders could be seen slapping each other in a pleasant manner.
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks would continue "as long as necessary" and that no end had been set.
According to Tass, President Putin was speaking at his Sochi resort in the southern part of the country.
President Biden and President Putin met in Switzerland in June, but the two sides made no progress other than sending ambassadors to each other and agreeing to start talks on nuclear weapons.
Ahead of a video call between the two presidents, 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."
''Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia's intelligence have been made more than once'', Moscow has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating''.
''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.''
After a conference call on Monday, the White House said the five Western leaders had agreed on a joint strategy that would "severely damage Russia's economy" if Russian troops entered Ukraine. '
On the other hand, according to a statement from the British Prime Minister's Office, they "reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's geographical security."
Possible measures, according to reports, include restrictions on Russian banks converting currency into currency and disconnecting Russia from the global payment system Swift.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov 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.
It is estimated that there are more than 90,000 Russian troops 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.