US offers help to Ukraine against Russian invasions

Wilmington: United States President Joe Biden promised Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the US and its allies would resolutely respond to any further Russian invasion into Ukraine, Reuters reported.

According to a White House statement on Sunday, the US president and his Ukrainian counterpart had discussed preparations for a series of upcoming meetings regarding the border crisis between Ukraine and Russia.

Biden supports diplomatic measures to ease tensions between the neighbours, it added. Biden reiterated that the US has commitments to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement comes after Biden twice held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a month.

Meanwhile, Zenskiy tweeted that he and Biden discussed joint actions on maintaining peace in Europe, preventing the escalation of crises, reforms, 'deoligarchization' of Ukraine etc. He said that the talk proves the unique nature of the two countries relations and appreciated the complete support of Ukraine.

Talks are scheduled between the US and Russia in Geneva from January 9 and 10. Also, Russia-NATO Council talks and meetings of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will take place after that.

Earlier, Biden said that he had told Putin that it was important for Russia to take steps intending to reduce the crisis before the scheduled meetings. However, last week, Putin's administration told media that Putin had warned against Biden moving for sanctions on Russia.

It said that Biden's such a move could lead to absolute destruction to relations between the two countries as well as Russia-west relations. Russia also demanded that they need no further NATO expansions on Ukraine or other former Soviet countries, and NATO should remove its offensive weaponry from the region.