Biden discusses raising costs on Russia with European counterparts

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden discussed Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine with his French, German and British counterparts on Monday, including joint efforts to continue tightening the screws on the Kremlin.

Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Premier Boris Johnson "affirmed their determination to continue raising the costs on Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine," the White House said in a statement.

"They also underscored their commitment to continue providing security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," it added.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24 has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow, and spurred an exodus of global companies from Russia. The West has also imposed biting export restrictions on key technologies that are now prohibited from being sent to Russia.

At least 406 civilians have been killed and 801 others injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to UN figures. But the international body has maintained that conditions on the ground have made it "difficult to verify" the true number of civilian casualties.

More than 1.7 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, the UN Refugee Agency said.