WASHINGTON, 8 June, 2021 (TON): The American President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's support to Kiev in a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Monday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a White House briefing, “Biden told Zelensky that he will stand up firmly for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and its aspirations and looks forward to welcoming him to the White House here in Washington this summer."

The phone call came as Kiev raised concern about Biden's 16 June meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the US' recent move on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project between Russia and Germany.

The Ukrainian leader had also expressed the hope to meet with Biden before the US-Russia summit.

However, Sullivan on Monday stressed that Biden's meeting with Putin was not a reward for Russia, but an attempt to "manage our differences and to identify those areas where we can work in America's interests to make progress".

Meanwhile, he noted the Biden administration does not expect significant deliverables from the summit.