According to the White House, US President Joe Biden received a debriefing from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday regarding meetings this week with the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine.
“They discussed President Macron’s recent meetings,” a statement said. “They also talked about ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts, undertaken in close coordination with our allies and partners, in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders.”
Macron met with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis sparked by Russia’s deployment of a large military force on Ukraine’s border while demanding that the ex-Soviet republic never be allowed to join the Western NATO alliance.
Since then, both French and Russian officials have expressed cautious optimism, despite the Kremlin sending mixed signals and continuing to build up forces on Ukraine’s sea and land borders.
Following his visit to the White House on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Ukraine and Russia next week.
The White House has stated several times that it is striving to maintain a united front with European capitals.
