European leaders are stepping up diplomatic efforts to deescalate tension over Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden will also meet in Washington on Monday.

Scholz spoke in an interview with the Washington Post ahead of his meeting with Biden.

He said, "It will have a very high price if Russia would intervene into Ukraine with its military troops." But he added, "We are working very hard to use all channels of talks that we have now."

Scholz also hinted about the possibility of halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to supply natural gas from Russia to Germany in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz said, "It is absolutely clear that in a situation like this all options are on the table." He added, "Our answer will be united and decisive."

US White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has suggested that Russia could mount a military invasion of Ukraine during the ongoing Beijing Olympics.