Biden and Zelensky held an hour-and-a-half phone conversation on Thursday about Russian troop build-ups close to the eastern Ukrainian border, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated.

President Joe Biden told Zelensky about Tuesday’s virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he warned about possible imposition of “strong sanctions” ahead of military invasion, Ms. Psaki said.

Likewise, the White House spokeswoman denied accusations that Washington is currently pressuring Ukraine to make the territory over to Moscow in order to avoid a military escalation.

Plus, Ms. Psaki reported that Biden will intend to speak by phone with other European leaders including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The most recent Putin-Biden talks took place at a time of escalation of tension in which Russia seeks to obtain reliable guarantees that preclude NATO’s expansion eastward and the deployment of weapons systems on states adjacent to Russia.

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