Updated

President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande have discussed developments in Ukraine and the terrorist threat posed by the group Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The White House says Obama and Hollande spoke by phone Friday to reiterate their stance that Russia would face additional sanctions if it provokes more instability on neighboring Ukraine. The White House says Obama praised the Kiev government's plans for presidential elections later this month.

The two men also discussed a regional conference coming up Saturday in Paris to improve cooperation to combat threats posed by Boko Haram, the group that abducted nearly 300 girls in Nigeria.