Scholz calls for de-escalation in Ukraine crisis

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron urgently called for de-escalation in the Ukraine crisis on Tuesday night before a bilateral meeting in Berlin.

Scholz said everything should be "done now to ensure that the situation develops differently than is sometimes feared", amid Russian troop buildup along the Russian-Ukraine border.

“We therefore also expect clear steps from Russia that will contribute to a de-escalation of the situation," Scholz said.

He added that "military aggression would have serious consequences".

Moscow has denied it is planning an assault, but it has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine in recent weeks and is holding military drills at multiple locations in Russia.

That has led the United States and its NATO allies to rush to prepare for a possible war.

Several rounds of high stakes diplomacy have failed to yield any breakthroughs, and tensions escalated further this week.

Scholz said that the fact talks are happening "in close coordination with the US and our allies is really a good development in a difficult situation".

"Let's hope that our joint great efforts will lead to the progress we so long for actually being achieved," Scholz said.

NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe as part of an alliance “response force" if necessary.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said he is prepared to send troops to protect NATO allies in Europe.

IMAGE: AP