US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone.

Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said that the two leaders agreed that it was necessary to call on Russia to reduce the latest troop reinforcements near the border to Ukraine, “in order to achieve a de-escalation of the situation”.

Russia and Ukraine conducted simultaneous military drills not far from the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, as NATO foreign and defense ministers convened virtually to discuss the build-up of troops near Ukraine’s border and in the annexed Crimea.

“The leaders expressed concern about the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s border and in occupied Crimea, and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine"s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, - the White House’s readout of the call said.