WASHINGTON, 30 December 2021, (TON): US President Joe Biden is set to hold talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin for the second time this month, in a bid to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine.

The two leaders will speak by phone on Thursday.

A White House official said “they will discuss forthcoming security talks between the countries and the situation in Europe.”

Russia, which has built up forces on the border with Ukraine, denies planning to invade the country.

It said “its troops are there for exercises, and that Russia is entitled to move its troops freely on its own soil.”

A White House statement said “the US consulted European leaders ahead of the call to co-ordinate a common response to the issue.”

Ukrainian security officials say more than 100,000 Russian troops have been sent close to their shared border, and the US has threatened Mr Putin with sanctions "like none he's ever seen" if Ukraine comes under attack.

A US official told media “Mr Biden will offer his Russian counterpart a "diplomatic path" but remains "gravely" concerned by the Russian troop build-up on the border.”