WASHINGTON (TIP): Vice President Joe Biden has said the United States strongly supports negotiations among Ukraine, Russia and international diplomats to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. The White House said that Biden spoke by phone on Wednesday with Ukraine’s new president, Petro Poroshenko. It was their second conversation in two days. The White House also said that Poroshenko told Biden that he’s still committed to his offer to grant amnesty to insurgents who lay down their arms or allow them to return to Russia.

Biden told Poroshenko that the US applauds the peace plan he presented on Saturday during his inauguration. Biden has said that Moscow must recognize Poroshenko as Ukraine’s legitimate leader, stop supporting pro-Russian separatists and prevent arms from flowing over the border. The White House added that the leaders also conferred on the security situation in eastern Ukraine.