Biden and Macron talk ‘diplomatic and deterrence efforts’ ahead of

President BidenJoe BidenDr. Hiro Yoshikawa: Cash aid benefits young children living in poverty  US officials say Russia at 70 percent of troop buildup needed for full invasion: reports The ruling class and the Supreme Court MORE spoke with French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronFrench president, German chancellor to visit Russia, Ukraine as tensions rise The Hill’s Morning Report – Dems juggling priorities amid new challenge Germany’s chancellor says he will not be at Beijing Olympics MORE on Sunday about Russia’s military buildup along its border with Ukraine.

“The leaders discussed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia’s continued military build-up on Ukraine’s borders, and affirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the White House said in a statement on Sunday regarding the call.

“They agreed their teams will remain in touch and continue consulting with our Allies and partners, including Ukraine,” the White House added.

The presidents’ call came ahead of Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip to Moscow and Kyiv scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. 

France has pushed for diplomatic talks to resolve the crisis as Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. While Moscow has demanded that Ukraine not be permitted to join NATO, Russia maintains that it does not plan to invade Ukraine despite U.S. officials warning it would do so in coming days.

On Sunday, the Biden administration also reiterated that it would punish Russia by going after elites in the event of an attack.

“There are critical technologies that Russia is dependent on the United States and our allies on, technologies that Russia, that China does not have access to. Russian elites who we would cut off from the global financial system are not putting their money in China,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally AdeyemoWally AdeyemoSunday shows preview: US deploys troops, briefs lawmakers amid Russia-Ukraine tensions Biden administration eases restrictions on aid to Afghanistan White House sanctions dozens accused of human rights abuses, including China, Russia MORE said on CBS’s “Face The Nation.”

“They’re putting their money in Europe and in the United States. And those elites, those who are helping President Putin make these decisions, we would cut them and their families off from the global financial system in ways that would limit their ability to do business in the ways they’ve done it in the past.”