Russian President Vladimir Putin and  US President Joe Biden (Photo: BBC)

This was the second call between the two leaders since Biden took office in January.

President Biden made clear that the US will firmly defend its national interests in response to Russian actions and emphasized the US’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He voiced concerns about the sudden Russian military build-up in Crimea and on Ukraine’s border, and called on Russia to de-escalate tensions.

President Biden reaffirmed his goal of building a stable, predictable relationship with Russia consistent with US interests, and proposed a summit in a third country in the coming months to discuss the full range of issues facing the US and Russia.