The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Britain and the United States revealed “determination” during a phone call on Monday that Ukraines sovereignty should be respected, the French presidency said.
While Russia is implicated of preparing an attack on its neighbour, the leaders also “expressed their commitment to act to maintain peace and security in Europe”, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said following the call.The leaders all worried the need for Russia to re-engage in negotiations with Ukraine, as part of the “Normandy Four” group under the aegis of France and Germany, Macrons office said.The diplomatic coordination on Ukraine begins the eve of a long-awaited videoconference between United States President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the subject and after a caution earlier Monday from the White House that Washington was prepared to act against Moscow in the occasion of hostility against Ukraine.The United States was prepared to increase its military presence in Eastern Europe need to Moscow get into Ukraine, the White House warned.In an indication of the increased stress with Moscow, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the nations eastern frontline on Monday where Kiev has been combating pro-Russia separatists considering that 2014. A senior United States official told the Washington Post on Friday that Russia was preparing to introduce an offensive in early 2022 including approximately 175,000 troops.Moscow has consistently rejected any bellicose intents and accused Western powers of increasing “provocations”.( AFP).
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Released on: 07/12/2021 – 01:36
