Biden, Macron vow unity on Ukraine and move to end subsidy tensions

Joe Biden on Thursday used the first state visit of his presidency to demonstrate unity with France's Emmanuel Macron on Ukraine, show willingness to speak to Russia's Vladimir Putin and assuage European anger over US subsidies.

The US president and first lady Jill Biden held a sumptuous, star-studded White House state dinner, featuring music from Jon Batiste and Chardonnay from the Napa Valley, in honour of President Macron and his wife, Brigitte.

But Ukraine, the biggest attack on a European state since 1945, remained the most pressing issue for the leaders, who vowed to continue robust support and to back Kyiv during the tough winter months.

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Biden has so far resisted talking to Putin since the invasion was launched in February, while Macron has kept lines of communication open. Russia calls the war a "special operation."

"Let me choose my words very carefully," Biden told a news conference with Macron. "I'm prepared to speak with Mr Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he's looking for a way to end the war. He hasn't done that yet."

Russian President Vladimir Putin presides over a meeting. File photo

Macron, for his part, said he would continue to talk to Putin to "try to prevent escalation and to get some very concrete results" such as the safety of nuclear plants.

The two leaders also sought ways to ease some economic tensions in Oval Office talks.

Biden pledged to Macron to make changes to US legislation passed by the US Congress this year that European nations fear will harm their economies.

Bills aimed at boosting U.S. renewable energy and the semiconductor industry have "glitches" that can be addressed, Biden said.

Macron raised French and European concerns about Biden's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a new $430 billion bill that offers massive subsidies for US-made products and is aimed at addressing the climate crisis and promoting renewable energy.

At a meeting on Wednesday with US lawmakers, Macron said the act was "super aggressive" toward European companies, one participant told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

"France did not come here to ask for some kind of exception for its economy. We came to share how the consequences of this regulation impact us," he said on Thursday.

Reuters