President of the United States, Joe Biden has vowed to shut down a key Russian gas pipeline to Germany if Moscow invades Ukraine.

Speaking after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, Joe Biden said the US would "bring an end" to the Nord Stream Two pipeline.

Their talks came as French President Emmanuel Macron met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and expressed hope that war could be avoided.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said several proposals put forward by his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron could form a basis for moving forward on the crisis over Ukraine.