Emmanuel Macron spoke with Joe Biden ahead of Moscow visit to discuss Ukraine conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with US President Joe Biden again on Sunday in a “coordination logic” ahead of his travel to Moscow on Monday,  according to the French Presidency and the White House.  

According to the French Presidency, the 40-minute chat allowed the two leaders to “exchange information about contacts made over the weekend” in order to ensure proper coordination ahead of the trip.

Also read: UK foreign secretary Liz Truss vows to ‘raise the cost’ if Russia takes further action

Macron is scheduled to visit Russia on Monday, which has amassed forces near Ukraine, raising concerns of an invasion.

The White House said the two leaders discussed “ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders.”

Macron and Biden affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and agreed their teams will remain in touch and continue consulting with their allies and partners, including Ukraine, it added.

Also read: US sending troops to protect NATO territory, not start war with Russia

Russia has denied planning to invade Ukraine but has tens of thousands of troops near its neighbour’s borders, prompting the United States to order about 3,000 extra troops to bolster NATO’s eastern flank in Poland and Romania.

While massing more than 100,000 troops near the border, Russia has warned that if its security demands are not met, it will take unspecified military action. Among them is a commitment that NATO will never admit Ukraine, a demand that the US and NATO have rejected.

The diplomatic bustle will continue on Monday, when Biden will host Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, at the White House to coordinate the western response.

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said the US was preparing for all scenarios, including a “contingency where Russian forces drive on the Ukrainian capital,” in an interview with Fox News Sunday.

Also read: German leader seeks to assure US of support against Russian aggression

“(An attack) could take a number of different forms. It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could take some weeks yet. (Putin) has put himself in a position with military deployments to be able to act aggressively against Ukraine at any time now,” Sullivan told ABC News.

Macron’s trip to Russia could prove crucial. France’s president, who has spoken with Putin three times in the last ten days on the phone, has indicated that he will acknowledge Russian security concerns while remaining committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty. As more than 100,000 Russian troops mass on Ukraine’s borders, Macron detailed a “realistic” approach to the possibility of conflict on Sunday.