Biden assures Zelensky of Ukraine’s sovereignty

President Joe Biden on Monday repudiated the recognition of two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine by Russia as independent entities, assuring President Volodymyr Zelensky of the sovereignty of Ukraine.

The White House disclosed President Biden held 35 minutes phone discussion with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to “reaffirm” the US commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty, denouncing Putin’s recognition of the two separatist regions as independent territories.

President Biden also held consultation deliberations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for 30 minutes on the action of Russia in eastern Ukraine. The leaders “strongly condemned” Putin’s decision and discussed how to coordinate their response.

Biden earlier coordinated a meeting of the coalition of the European Union and other US allies to decide what they say will be crippling economic sanctions on Russia if troops massing on Ukraine’s borders start an attack.

On recognition of the autonomy of the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, President Putin instructed the movement of troops into the two breakaway regions as part of a “peacekeeping” operation.

Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment, with the order saying only that it “comes into force from the day it was signed”.