December 9, 2021

President Joe Biden on Thursday reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the United States’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, as the country steels itself for a potential Russian invasion on its eastern frontier.

“President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of a further military intervention,” according to a White House readout of the call, which lasted more than an hour.

Biden also told Zelenskyy that the U.S. and its allies were “committed to the principle of ‘no decisions or discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine,’” reiterating his calls for Russia to de-escalate tensions and choose diplomacy.

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