United States President Joe Biden conducted a call with European allies on Tuesday to brief them about the conversation with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The leaders called for a diplomatic route to settle the tensions between Ukraine and Russia and also warned of “serious consequences.”

The leaders further projected their support for “Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called Russia to “reduce tensions and engage in diplomacy”, according to a press release from the White House.

The European leaders also agreed to come up with a coordinated and comprehensive approach and vowed to remain in touch with other European Union and NATO partners.

Biden aimed to make clear that his administration stands ready to take actions against the Kremlin that would exact “a very real cost” on the Russian economy, according to White House officials.

Putin, for his part, was expected to demand guarantees from Biden that the NATO military alliance will never expand to include Ukraine, which has long sought membership. That’s a non-starter for the Americans and their NATO allies.  

According to the meeting readout released by the White House, Biden told Putin that the United States and European allies “would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of military escalation”

“President Biden reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy”, the White House statement read.

“We have consulted significantly with our allies and believe we have a path forward that would impose significant and severe harm on the Russian economy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday in previewing the meeting, according to reports from Associated Press.

“You can call that a threat. You can call that a fact. You can call that preparation. You can call it whatever you want to call it.”