The Ukrainian authorities called on Western countries Saturday to show "vigilance and firmness" in their negotiations with Russia, which is accused of amassing troops on the border with the aim of carrying out an invasion.

Moscow denies any intention to do so, but demands security guarantees, including that Ukraine will not join NATO. Although the United States rejected this in a written response to Moscow this week, diplomatic channels remain open.

During a phone call with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba "stressed the importance of being vigilant and firm in contacts with Russia," according to a foreign ministry statement.

Kuleba called for "giving priority to a political and diplomatic settlement" of the crisis between Russia and the West over Ukraine in light of the escalating tension.

Kiev reported that the two ministers stressed the importance of "refusing to take measures that would inflame anxiety" in Ukrainian society, and "negatively affect financial stability" in the former Soviet republic, one of the poorest countries in Europe.

Kuleba also thanked France for not evacuating the families of its diplomats present in Ukraine, unlike what several countries, including the United States, had done, in a measure that drew criticism from Kiev.

Le Drian will visit Ukraine with his German counterpart Annalina Birbock on February 7-8. Together, they will head to the front line with the pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country, according to Kiev.

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Western countries not to create "panic" as Russian forces reinforced their deployment on his country's borders.