Canada’s Trudeau discusses Ukraine with Scholz

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Prior to his visits to Kiev and Moscow, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reviewed the situation in Ukraine with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"The two leaders shared their concerns over Russia’s aggressive and destabilizing actions in and around Ukraine and stressed the importance of a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions. They noted their shared commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the office of the Canadian Prime Minister said on Sunday.

During his Sunday meetings with Scholz, Trudeau emphasized the significance of continuous collaboration between Western allies and partners, according to the release.

"The two leaders stressed that any further military incursion into Ukraine would have severe costs and consequences, including through coordinated sanctions," Trudeau’s office said.

Before he visited Ukraine and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday.

Scholz will go to Kiev, Ukraine's capital, on February 14 before flying to Moscow on February 15 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier, Biden told Americans that they should leave Ukraine "as soon as possible, and in any event, in the next 24 to 48 hours," speaking from his White House podium. He added, “We don’t know what’s going to happen, but the risk is now high enough, and the threat is now immediate enough, that this is what prudence demands.”

However, Russia has consistently stated that it has never threatened any country and has categorically disputed Western claims that it is planning an "invasion" of Ukraine.