U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed NATO's military presence in Afghanistan and agreed to closely coordinate future steps, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The chancellor and the president exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and how to proceed with regard to the NATO troop presence," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

Both leaders underlined the importance of close coordination and cooperation as well as continued political commitment for the country, Seibert added.

The two leaders also agreed to call on Russia to reduce its troops on the border with Ukraine, Merkel's office said.

The growing Russian presence along the Ukrainian border has caused concern in the West in recent days. 

Washington said Russian troop levels there are at their highest since 2014, when war first broke out in eastern Ukraine with Moscow-backed separatists. 

Russia said that it sent troops to its western borders for combat drills because of "threats" from the transatlantic alliance NATO. 

On Tuesday, Biden proposed a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said on Wednesday it was premature to talk in tangible terms about a possible meeting between Putin and Biden.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: Then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin in 2013. /AFP)