MojNews_ The White House announced Monday night, Tehran time, that US presidents would hold talks with the French president, the German chancellor and the British prime minister over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and increase pressure on Moscow.

US President Joe Biden today held a secure video call with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The leaders of these countries reaffirmed their determination to continue to increase pressure on Russia for its illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

The White House statement said:

They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue providing security, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. In addition, they discussed their recent interactions with the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called on the European Union to persuade Ukrainian officials to respect human rights law. In a telephone conversation with Council of Europe President Charles Michel, Putin stressed that Ukrainian nationalists were using citizens as human shields.

The Russian presidency announced in a statement:

Vladimir Putin specifically stressed that Russia&#۳۹;s Russia is taking all possible measures to save the lives of civilians.

"The Russian armed forces have repeatedly declared a ceasefire to ensure the evacuation of civilians, but Ukrainian nationalists have used violence to disrupt the process," Putin said in a statement.