US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had a phone conversation on Tuesday to discuss their latest contacts with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, the White House said in a statement.
According to the document, the US and French presidents "reviewed their recent conversations with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, and affirmed their continued support for a diplomatic path forward."
Biden and Macron also "discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts" over the situation surrounding Ukraine. The leaders also discussed their "readiness to impose severe consequences and to reinforce the defensive posture on NATO’s eastern flank."
According to an earlier White House report, the conversation started at 18:11 Moscow time and ended at 19:00 Moscow time. It was the third phone call of the US and French leaders this month.
Meanwhile, the French president’s administration said Macron "underscored the need to continue diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and enable pacification, necessary for starting a serious dialogue, settling the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and addressing issues of European security."
The Elysee Palace press service said Macron also reiterated France’s commitment to "respect sovereignty and security of its partners and allies."
Biden, in turn, welcomed France’s efforts within the framework of the Normandy Quartet regarding the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. The leaders agreed to remain in close contact on the issue in the coming days, the French presidential administration said.
