Russia says it won't start a war amid Ukraine tension

Biden, EU pledge cooperation on energy security amid the standoff

Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Emmanuel Macron he wanted to continue dialogue with the West and did not want the situation near Ukraine to escalate, a French presidency official said after the two leaders spoke on Friday. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on the other hand, said he could not rule out a further escalation of tensions with Russia but he criticised what he said was too much "panic" weighing on the economy.

“I don't consider the situation now more tense than before,” Zelenskiy said.

This after the country earlier in the day sent its strongest signal so far that it is willing