Biden to hold talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky amid tensions with Russia

Washington DC - President Joe Biden is due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.

President Joe Biden (r.) will have a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (l.) on Sunday about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
President Joe Biden (r.) will have a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (l.) on Sunday about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.  © Collage: IMAGO/SNA & ZUMA Wire

During the call, Biden plans to raise the massing of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, the White House said on Friday, adding that he is also due to discuss preparations for planned talks with Moscow to help defuse the conflict.

Biden also plans to reiterate his support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the White House said.

"As we have agreed with our Strategic Partner [US], nothing about [Ukraine] without [Ukraine]," Zelensky tweeted on Friday evening. "Look forward to talking again with [Biden] this Sunday to coordinate our steps for the sake of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe."

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On Thursday, Biden spoke with Putin over the phone for almost an hour, addressing the Ukraine conflict, among other key topics.

The call came ahead of talks scheduled in Geneva for January 9 and 10, during which diplomats from both countries will meet to discuss the stand-off.

Russia and NATO are planning hold separate talks two days later, on January 12.

For weeks, the West has been concerned about reports that Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers in areas not far from Ukraine, triggering fears of a Russian invasion.

Russia rejects the charge, and in turn accuses Ukraine of having moved more soldiers to the eastern areas held by pro-Russian separatist.

The developments recall the events of 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula and began its ongoing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO/SNA & ZUMA Wire

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