US President Joe Biden has vowed to shut down a key Russian gas pipeline to Germany if Moscow invades Ukraine, writes BBC.

Speaking after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, Mr Biden said the US would “bring an end” to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

When asked about Nord Stream 2, he said “if Russia invades... again, then there will be longer Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it”.

However he did not give specifics, responding to a question about how he would do this by saying: “I promise you we will be able to do it”.

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