nicole killian is at the white house tonight. with europe on the brink of its worst war in decades. nicole, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, jericka. joe biden spoke with french president emmanuel macron following a meeting with his national security team. the administration is still hoping for a diplomatic off ramp, warning russia could pay a steep price if it chooses war. joe biden convened his national security team at the white house to discuss the escalating crisis between ukraine and russia. >> everything we're seeing tells us that the decision we believe president putin has made to invade is moving forward. >> reporter: secretary of state antony blinken on "face the nation," not ruling out a last-ditch effort at diplomacy. >> joe biden has made very clear that he's prepared to meet vladamir putin at any time and any format. if that can help prevent a war. >> reporter: while russia denies it will attack ukraine -- >> there is no invasion and no such plans. >> reporter: it continues a buildup along the ukrainian borde