BRUSSELS, Feb. 6  -- The European Union (EU) and the United States need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to confront the worsening situation in Ukraine, said European Council President Donald Tusk ahead of a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday.

Tusk said the EU and the United States should coordinate their efforts and "uphold the pressure on Russia for as long as necessary."

In Biden's words, "Russia cannot be allowed to redraw the map of the EU, and that's exactly what it's trying to do."

Another international challenge facing the EU and the United States is extremism and terrorism. As a result of these phenomena, the two parties need to intensify counter-terrorism dialogues, and continue to work closely in addressing global threats, Tusk said.