The UK Government will announce sanctions on Russia on Tuesday after Vladimir Putin recognised the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent.
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, said: "Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
In response to Russia's decision to recognise the separatist regions, Boris Johnson said: "This is plainly in breach of international law, it's a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
"I think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign."
In a statement, the Kremlin said that Mr Putin had informed both Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron of his decision in phone calls with the German Chancellor and French President, adding that both leaders had "expressed disappointment" over the move.
In recognising the independence of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia has officially given up on the 2015 peace deals that recognise Ukraine's sovereignty over the territory. It also gives Russia a pretext to send troops to the separatist-held areas.
However, it is not clear whether it means Russia will target the rest of Ukraine.
The US envoy to the UN said she believed an invasion would create a refugee crisis across Europe with "millions of displaced people".
"Putin is testing our international system ... he is demonstrating that through force he can make a farce of the UN," she said.
02:51 AM
'We are not afraid of anyone or anything'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Ukrainians after 2am local time.
“We are not afraid. We won’t cede anything,” he said, adding that Vladimir Putin withdrew from the Minsk Agreements by ordering troops into Ukraine.
“We are committed to peace and diplomacy. We are on our land, we are not afraid of anyone or anything, and we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that," Mr Zelensky said.
“It’s not February 2014, but February 2022,” he said in a reference to Ukraine’s weak army eight years ago when Russia took Crimea.
02:09 AM
Air travel disruption is possible
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has warned: “There is a strong likelihood that any Russian military operations would severely restrict commercial air travel.
"Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment.”
12:01 AM
Australia says Russian actions are unacceptable and unprovoked
Australia condemns Russia's decision to recognise two regions in Ukraine controlled by separatists as independent and will be in lockstep with its allies on any sanctions on Russia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday.
Russia should unconditionally move its troops behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours, Mr Morrison said during a media briefing.
"It's unacceptable, it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted ... some suggestion that they are peacekeeping is nonsense."
11:26 PM
US prohibits trade with breakaway regions
US President Joe Biden signed an executive order to prohibit trade and investment between American individuals and the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine recognised as independent by Russia on Monday, the White House said.
Included is the prohibition of "new investment" by an American, wherever located, and the "importation into the United States, directly or indirectly, of any goods, services, or technology from the covered regions".
11:02 PM
Boris warns Ukraine president Russian invasion coming 'within hours'
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy a Russian invasion was possible within hours or days and Britain would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine and announce sanctions on Russia.
"Outlining his grave concern at recent developments in the region, the Prime Minister told President Zelenskiy that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days" Johnson's office said following a call between the leaders after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.
"He told President Zelenskiy that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian Government."
10:59 PM
France condemns 'paranoid' address by Putin on Ukraine: presidency
France described as paranoid an address to the nation by President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, accusing the Russian leader of breaking promises made to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Putin's speech, in which he recognised as independent two Ukrainian separatist regions, mixed "rigid and paranoid" ideas", a French presidential official said, saying the Russian leader had "not respected promises made" to Macron.
The official, who asked not to named, said further Russian "military actions" were not to be ruled out and added the EU was preparing a list of Russian entities and individuals to sanction in a "proportionate" response.
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) in Moscow - AFP
10:53 PM
Boris Johnson to chair Cobra meeting tomorrow at 6.30am
The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting at 6.30am on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, a No 10 spokesperson said.
10:36 PM
Russian armoured vehicles seen in Donetsk
According to independent Russian media agency Interfax, a large number of armored vehicles have been seen in the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic.
As eyewitnesses told Interfax, two columns of armored vehicles are located on the territory of the DPR and are moving to the north and west.
10:19 PM
US calls out Russia's 'flagrant disrespect of international law' as troops roll in
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said in a statement that the US condemns Vladimir Putin’s recognition of two territories in eastern Ukraine as independent.
“This decision represents a complete rejection of Russia’s commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia’s claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mr Blinken said, adding that the move is a “flagrant disrespect for international law and norms”.
10:04 PM
Biden tells Ukrainian president: US will "respond swiftly and decisively"
This is the official readout from the White House of Joe Biden's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President Biden strongly condemned Russian President Putin’s decision to purportedly recognize the “independence” of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. He updated President Zelensky on the United States’ response, including our plan to issue sanctions. President Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine.
09:51 PM
Putin orders military into Donetsk
Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to go to the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine in order to carry out "peacekeeping functions." In the text of the presidential order he signed today recognising the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the Russian president appeared to pave the way for troops to officially occupy parts of Ukraine's Donbas region. Videos circulating appeared to show a convoy of Russian military near the Donetsk frontier, however the Telegraph could not independently verify the footage
According to the White House, President Biden’s secure call with French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz has just finished. They spoke for approximately 30 minutes. We are now waiting for a readout of what was said.
09:15 PM
Liz Truss: Sanctions in response to Russia's 'breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity'
Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
UK Government to announce sanctions against Russia tomorrow
The UK Government will announce sanctions on Russia tomorrow after Vladimir Putin recognised the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent.
Responding to the move, Boris Johnson said: "This is plainly in breach of international law, it's a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
"I think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign."
08:30 PM
US announces sanctions on separatist regions of Ukraine
The White House said that President Biden would soon issue an executive order prohibiting new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the breakaway separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk that were today recognised by Russia.
08:21 PM
Nato chief says Moscow 'trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again'
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg condemned Vladimir Putin's recognition of rebel-held areas in east Ukraine, saying it violated international agreements Moscow had signed.
"I condemn Russia's decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic'.
"This further undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party.
"Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again.
"Nato supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Allies urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments."
08:20 PM
Biden holds call with Ukrainian President after Putin announces recognition of separatist regions
US President Joe Biden held a secure call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Russia would recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities.
A White House official said the call between the US and Ukrainian leaders lasted 35 minutes.
08:16 PM
EU to react with sanctions after Putin recognises Ukrainian separatists
European Union leaders denounced Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the independence of Ukraine's separatist regions and warned the bloc will react with sanctions.
"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements," EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel each tweeted.
"The EU and its partners will react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine," they said.
In a joint statement, Ms von der Leyen and Mr Michel said: "The Union will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act."
08:07 PM
Liz Truss: Russia’s decision to recognise separatist regions of Ukraine will not 'go unpunished'
My statement condemning Russia’s recognition of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ as independent states 👇 pic.twitter.com/e0y3LNu29X
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said “we will not allow Russia’s violation of its international commitments to go unpunished” after Vladimir Putin said he would recognise two separatist Ukrainian republics.
08:04 PM
Ukrainian President to talk to Boris Johnson after Russia recognises breakaway regions
Discussed the events of the last hours with @POTUS. We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council. A conversation with @BorisJohnson is also planned.
Putin says responsibility for 'continuing bloodshed will rest entirely with the Ukrainian regime'
In a televised address, Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian government to stop fighting in eastern Ukraine.
"We demand that those who seized power in Kyiv immediately stop the hostilities.
"Otherwise, the responsibility for the continuing bloodshed will rest entirely with the Ukrainian regime," he said after announcing he will sign a decree to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
07:46 PM
EU disagreement over Borrell's latest sanctions claim
A claim that the EU was ready to table sanctions to counter Vladimir Putin’s recognition of two separatist regions in Eastern Ukraine has highlighted further divisions in the bloc’s strategy to avert war, reports Joe Barnes.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, said he would put a further package of sanctions to the bloc’s foreign ministers in response to the Russian President’s claim over Donetsk and Luhansk, in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
One diplomat suggested Mr Borrell was "freelancing" as his comments "didn’t reflect the discussion in the room".
Another source said the EU's top foreign diplomat had proposed a draft statement on the Russian recognition but made no request to table further sanctions against Moscow.
07:44 PM
Putin describes those living in eastern Donbas region of Ukraine as 'victims of genocide'
President Putin said four million living in the Donbas are "victims of genocide" just because they opposed Ukraine's 2014 revolution, reports Nataliya Vasilyeva.
"How long is this tragedy going to happen? How long should we put up with it," he said, adding that Russia has been patiently waiting for Kyiv to implement the 2015 peace accords for eastern Ukraine.
"It's all been in vain."
07:43 PM
Boris Johnson condemns Putin's recognition of separatist republics
Boris Johnson condemned Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the breakaway Ukrainian republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
At a Downing Street press conference he said: "This is plainly in breach of international law, it's a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.
"It is a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk Agreements.
"I think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign."
It was "yet another indication that things are moving in the wrong direction in Ukraine".
07:39 PM
Putin announces he is signing decree recognising independence of separatist areas of eastern Ukraine
Vladimir Putin signs a decree recognising two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine
President Putin said he was signing a decree to recognise the independence of separatist-held areas in Donetsk and Luhansk.
He described it as a "long-overdue decision."
He also announced that Russia would be signing agreements on cooperation and friendship with the breakaway regions of Ukraine.
07:36 PM
Putin: West wants to ‘contain’ Russia
Vladimir Putin said the West wanted to "contain" Russia and would come up with an excuse to hit it with new sanctions.
"They will do it just because we exist," he said.
07:33 PM
Boris Johnson: Putin's recognition of separatist republics an 'ill omen' and 'dark sign'
The Prime Minister said that Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the two separatist Ukrainian republics was an “ill omen” and a “dark sign” that things are moving in the wrong direction.
07:31 PM
Putin says Nato training centres established in Ukraine amount to 'Nato military bases'
The Russian leader also claimed that the question of Ukraine’s entry to Nato “has been decided in advance".
07:29 PM
Putin reveals he asked Bill Clinton about Nato membership for Russia in 2000 but says he was rebuffed
Vladimir Putin revealed that he asked then-outgoing US President Bill Clinton if Russia could join Nato in 2000 but he was rebuffed.
He said Mr Clinton's reaction to his request in 2000 when Mr Putin had recently taken office was "more than reserved".
07:27 PM
Putin: Nato membership for Ukraine a 'direct threat to Russia'
Vladimir Putin described Nato membership for Ukraine as a "direct threat to Russia."
He accused the US of "pushing through" a decision in 2008 to offer Ukraine an action act for a future membership.
Mr Putin then described as irrelevant informal assurances from some Nato nations that Ukraine will not be allowed to join in the near future.
07:24 PM
Putin lashes out at Ukrainian authorities for persecuting opponents of anti-Russian revolution of 2014
President Putin lashed out at the Ukrainian authorities for going after those who opposed the 2014 revolution, pledging to "punish" those responsible for a deadly fire in a Black Sea city.
Mr Putin said Russia "knows the names of those responsible for the tragedy in Odessa and will do all we can to punish them."
42 people trapped in a building in Odessa burned, suffocated or jumped to their deaths in May 2014.
07:21 PM
Putin: Ukraine has ‘turned into a colony with a puppet regime’
Vladimir Putin launched a scathing criticism of the Ukrainian government saying that Ukraine has "turned into a colony with a puppet regime" and blamed Ukrainian authorities for persecuting Russian speakers.
07:19 PM
Putin says US and Nato have ‘unashamedly turned Ukraine into a theatre of war’
Vladimir Putin said he viewed Ukraine's plans to invite Western troops to their country as a tangible threat to Russia, saying that upcoming drills will give a "pretext to build a Nato force in Ukraine."
07:17 PM
Putin: Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons creating ‘yet another threat to Russia’
President Putin said he thought Ukraine might be able to acquire nuclear weapons, using Soviet-era technology.
He also said the West might egg on Kyiv to do that: "Western sponsors would be helpful to create yet another threat to Russia," he said.
07:15 PM
‘Ukraine is now being controlled from the outside’, says Putin
In a televised address, the Russian President said “Ukraine is now being controlled from the outside.”
He said the West controls “everything” in the country via the US Embassy in Kyiv and NGOs.
He added that the Russian language in Ukraine has been marginalised.
07:09 PM
Putin says Ukraine is riddled with oligarchic clans and not able to achieve ‘stable statehood’
The Russian President said Ukraine was not able to achieve "stable statehood" and has therefore had to rely on foreign countries like the US.
07:06 PM
Putin: 'Ukrainian society has an aggressive Russophobia'
The Russian President said that the Kyiv authorities were working in an “unceremonial” and “uncooperative” way towards Russia.
07:01 PM
Putin complains about the way post-Soviet Ukraine has behaved towards Russia
In a televised address, the Russian President said that the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union saw Russia “robbed” and put in a "really difficult position".
He added that Ukraine’s leaders ‘wanted all the good things from Russia without any obligations’.
06:49 PM
'Modern Ukraine was created by communist Russia', says Putin as he gives 'history lesson' during national TV address
The Russian President began his address by giving a history lesson on Ukraine, claiming that the modern state of Ukraine was created by communist Russia:
"Ukraine has been created by Russia - by a Bolshevik Russia," Mr Putin said.
He also described eastern Ukraine as "ancient Russian lands".
06:47 PM
Putin: Citizens of south east Ukraine 'call themselves Russian and Orthodox'
The Russian President said that citizens of south east Ukraine “call themselves Russian and Orthodox”.
He added that Russia was connected to them by “blood”.
06:44 PM
Putin making televised address to the nation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun a televised address to the Russian nation, describing the situation in the eastern Donbas region as “extremely critical.”
06:27 PM
UN warns against 'unilateral action' that could undermine Ukraine, moments before Kremlin announces Putin to recognise separatists
The United Nations urged all parties to refrain from taking "unilateral action" that would undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, minutes before Russia announced that President Vladimir Putin will recognise Ukraine's rebel territories as independent.
"We would encourage everyone involved to refrain from any unilateral decision or unilateral action that could undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
"All issues must be addressed through diplomacy," he added, underlining the global body's call for "maximum restraint" to avoid escalating tensions.
06:13 PM
Macron calls emergency national security meeting on the Ukraine crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency national security meeting to discuss the Ukraine crisis, the Elysee Palace announced this evening.
The move comes after Vladimir Putin paved the way for a possible invasion of Ukraine after the Kremlin announced that the Russian President will recognise the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent.
06:07 PM
Putin told Scholz and Macron he will sign a decree recognising eastern Ukraine regions , Russian state media reports
A few moments before he was expected to give a televised address to the nation, Vladimir Putin told the leaders of Germany and France that he would agree to recognise the independence of the separatist statelets in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk, Nataliya Vasilyeva reports.
The Kremlin said in a read-out of Mr Putin's calls with Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron that the Russian president had informed his counterparts of the discussion at the Security Council earlier today about the appeal to recognise the separatist governments.
"The president of Russia said he intends to sign the decree soon," the read-out said, adding that the German chancellor and the French president "expressed disappointment with such a move."
06:02 PM
EU warns Moscow against recognising breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine
The European Union warned Moscow against recognising the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine, pledging a strong reaction should Russia choose to do so.
"We are ready to react with a strong united front in case he should decide to do so," the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels.
05:52 PM
Scholz tells Putin that recognising Ukraine separatists would be 'unilateral breach' of peace accords
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that Moscow would be unilaterally breaching the 2015 Minsk peace accords if it were to recognise the independence of east Ukraine's rebel republics.
In a call between Mr Scholz and Vladimir Putin, the German leader underlined that "such a step would be a gross contradiction of the Minsk agreement for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in east Ukraine and a unilateral breach of these deals from the Russian side".
Following the conversation, Mr Scholz said he was consulting with his "closest partners" including France's President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
05:41 PM
Russian state media: Putin to make televised address to the nation 'soon'
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to make a televised address, state media reported, shortly after he met with security officials and said a decision would be taken "today" on recognising separatist regions of Ukraine.
"Urgent. Putin to make address soon," read a banner on the state-run news channel Rossiya-24, shortly after the meeting with security officials and appeals from separatist leaders for official recognition earlier in the day.
05:38 PM
Ukrainian civilian killed in shelling on separatist frontline, officials confirm
Local officials said the civilian, identified only as a man born in 1970, was killed in a shelling attack on Novoluganske, a settlement 25 miles north of the eastern separatist stronghold of Donetsk.
The death marks the first officially-confirmed civilian casualty of the year in Ukraine's eight-year separatist conflict, which has claimed more than 14,000 lives and forced 1.5 million from their homes.
Ukraine's Western-backed leadership has also confirmed the death of five soldiers this year.
05:28 PM
Ukraine's foreign minister says everyone must focus on de-escalation efforts
Not only Ukraine, the entire world now closely follows Russia’s actions regarding the recognition of the so-called “L/DPR”. Everyone realizes consequences. A lot of emotions out there, but it’s exactly now that we all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts. No other way.
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said that after Russian statements on the possible recognition of breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, everyone has to focus on de-escalation efforts.
"Everyone realizes consequences. A lot of emotions out there, but it's exactly now that we all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts. No other way," Mr Kuleba tweeted.
He also said today that he would discuss de-escalation efforts with the US Secretary of State tomorrow during a trip to Washington.
05:21 PM
Liz Truss: 'We are definitely seeing the precursors to an invasion'
The Foreign Secretary said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was very likely but there was still a chance that diplomacy could work.
"We are definitely seeing the precursors to an invasion. Now we can't rule out the fact that diplomacy and deterrence could work but the situation is very dangerous," Ms Truss told broadcasters. "We urge Putin to stop."
05:03 PM
In pictures: Ukrainian reservists practice their combat skills in Kyiv
Single Russian boot on Ukrainian soil would prompt Western sanctions against Moscow
A single Russian boot on Ukrainian soil would prompt Western sanctions against Moscow, officials said on Monday, as Vladimir Putin weighed up recognising the separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, Joe Barnes reports.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace reaffirmed that just “one boot, one inch” into Ukraine by Russian forces would be treated as an invasion. Brussels also confirmed it would trigger sanctions if Donbas was targeted.
“Donbas is Ukraine. So it would indeed be a further aggression against Ukraine and its territorial integrity,” an EU official said, who hinted at a toughening of the bloc’s sanctions package if President Putin recognises the independence of the two separatist regions.
Russia’s top officials called on Mr Putin to make the move at an unscheduled meeting of the Kremlin security council.
Separately, EU foreign ministers on Monday adopted sanctions against five individuals, including asset freezes and travel bans, who facilitated a vote to elect members of the Russian state Duma to represent Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
04:49 PM
Ben Wallace: Russian leaders think sanctions ‘cannot harm them’
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said a Russian minister has previously said to his face that sanctions cannot harm them.
Speaking in the Commons he said any sanctions have to be "harder" than those imposed in 2014.
He said: "[Defence] Minister Shoigu said to my face that sanctions can't harm them. They will just either go elsewhere, or they're resilient. That is unfortunately the view in some of the leadership of the Russian Government.
"I doubt it's the view of the Russian people that have to suffer the consequences of that.
"And I think we should also recognise the consequence for the wider world of this invasion. Yemen gets about 20 per cent of its food from Ukrainian grain. Libya gets about 44 per cent of its food from Ukrainian grain.
"What would happen to those countries with rising food prices, a shortage of food, is a horrible consequence that we must do everything to avoid."
04:45 PM
Wallace says Russia has a ‘gun to the head’ of Ukraine, after Jeremy Corbyn calls for ‘reduction in Nato presence’
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Russia has put a gun to the head of Ukraine's government, following a question from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn about whether he would accept a reduction in Nato troops on the border if Russia pulled back.
Mr Corbyn, independent MP for Islington North, asked in the Commons: "Would he be prepared to countenance, if the Russians pulled back, any reduction in the Nato presence on the border as well in order to bring about a longer-term secure peace in the region?"
Mr Wallace said: "We didn't put 165,000 combat troops on the edge of a sovereign country and hold a gun to the head of a democratically elected government.
"We didn't do that. Russia did that. We have nothing to deescalate from, Russia does."
He added that he hoped Mr Corbyn "might condemn the Stop The War Coalition, who seem to always us paint us as the aggressor. Maybe he'd like to go and ask the people of Ukraine... who the aggressor is".
04:30 PM
Russian spy chief’s nervous television appearance
Russia’s spy chief was shown on television stuttering and seemingly lost for words when he made a slip about annexing Ukraine’s separatist-held areas, reports Nataliya Vasilyeva.
The highly orchestrated ad-hoc session of Russia’s Security Council that was televised on all major Russian TV channels exposed a genuine nervousness of the Russian elite about growing tensions with the West.
Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia’s much feared intelligence agency SVR and one of the country’s most influential men, was one of two dozen officials who presented their reports to President Putin on whether Russia should recognise separatist governments in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Mr Naryshkin, whose spy agency has been accused by the Western intelligence of pulling out daring operations including massive cyber-attacks, said he agreed with the previous speaker and said Russia should give the West “one last chance to get Kyiv to seek peace and comply with the Minsk agreement.”
When President Putin asked his long-time ally with a smirk: “Do you want to recognise their sovereignty or do you want to launch talks?” Mr Naryshkin struggled with words and stuttered, prompting Mr Putin to say: “Speak up!”
The spy chief kept stuttering.
“I support the proposal for the Donetsk and Luhansk’s People’s Republics to join the Russian Federation,” Mr Naryshkin managed to say.
Mr Putin laughed and shook his head: “We’re not talking about it, we’re not debating it. We’re talking about whether to recognise their independence or not.’
A visibly shaken Mr Naryshkin nodded: “Yes.”
04:25 PM
Video: Putin says Russia should consider recognising independence of separatist regions
03:59 PM
Invasion would lead to 'humanitarian crisis' - Ben Wallace
President Vladimir Putin's "commitment" to invade Ukraine will lead to a "humanitarian crisis", Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned.
Mr Wallace said: "I believe he is in danger of setting himself on a tragic course of events leading to a humanitarian crisis, instability and widespread suffering, not just of Ukrainians but also of the Russian people."
The Defence Secretary also warned of continued "false flag" operations orchestrated by the Kremlin, which he described as of "strong cause for concern that President Putin is still committed to an invasion".
03:53 PM
Putin says Russia is considering recognising, not annexing separatist regions
Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council in Moscow
President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is considering recognising the independence of two breakaway Ukrainian regions, but not annexing them and formally adding them to its own territory.
He made the comments during a long televised meeting of Russia's security council during which all the participants said they backed recognising the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic.
03:42 PM
Europe 'very dangerous' if we can't trust Russia - Ben Wallace
If Britain "can't trust" Russia's word "then I'm afraid it's a very dangerous place to be in Europe", Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned.
Conservative chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee Dr Julian Lewis asked: "What lessons have our Government drawn from the consequences for Ukraine of its decision in 1994 unilaterally to give up all the nuclear weapons it had inherited from the Soviet Union in return for assurances on a piece of paper?"
Mr Wallace replied: "Well I think it shows that what we have to do is make sure that the Budapest Memorandum which was the signature between Russia and Ukraine in 1994 is stuck to, that Russia should honour all the treaties that (it) signed and its statements to make sure that mutual recognition of each others security is upheld.
"If they don't do that then I think as he rightly says it opens up all sorts of questions about how much of Russia's word can we trust and if we can't trust their word then I'm afraid it's a very dangerous place to be in Europe."
03:40 PM
'Intimidation and aggression must not be rewarded' - says Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace has said that Russian aggression "must not be rewarded".
He told Parliament: "Intimidation and aggression must not be rewarded"
"We have made clear our determination to uphold the defensive principles of Nato," he said.
"We urge Russia to stick to its commitments that it has openly made over the years."
"We hope Mr Putin will back from invasion, but we must prepare for the event he does not," he concluded.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - DANIEL LEAL /AFP
03:35 PM
Ben Wallace warns again of 'false flags'
In an address to Parliament, the Defence Secretary has reiterated warnings of Russian attempts to create pretext for an invasion and called on Vladimir Putin to recommit to the "diplomatic process".
"Russian news outlets carrying fictitious allegations," he said.
"We have seen the Russian playbook being implemented that gives us strong cause for concern that President Putin is committed to invasion."
"The government urges President Putin, for the sake of his own people, even at this eleventh hour, to rule out an invasion of Ukraine and recommit to the diplomatic process," he added.
03:31 PM
Russia primed to launch 'multi-axis strike'
Russia is now primed to launch a multi-axis strike on Ukraine though multiple entry points, Western security officials have warned.
Vladimir Putin has battle-ready troops in both Western Russia and Belarus, capable of attacking with very little notice. An attack out of Minsk would likely provide the fastest route to Kyiv.
The Russian President has now deployed 110 Tactical Battalion Groups, with more in transit, on and around Ukraine’s borders, with two-thirds of them within 50 kilometres of the frontier.
Intelligence points to readiness levels being ramped up, with many of the Russian troops moving from “being positioned to attack to poised to attack”, a security source said.
The Western official added that this means there could be an invasion in a “matter of days” because the current deployments are “difficult to sustain”.
“All indications are still for a large-scale invasion, with multiple axises, with a series of objectives,” they said. Russia has around 200,000 troops currently stationed on and around Ukraine’s borders, supported by high-tech aircraft and weaponry, including S-400 missile systems.
Security officials say this is being backed up by Russian “information warfare”, as Moscow attempts to generate a “pretext” for an invasion.
03:27 PM
Russian Foreign Minister to visit Paris on Friday
Russia's foreign minister will meet his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Friday to lay groundwork for a mooted summit between US President Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin, France's foreign ministry has said.
Sergei Lavrov agreed to a meeting "to hold preparatory consultations for the summit agreed in principle" in a Sunday phone call between Mr Putin and France's Emmanuel Macron, said a ministry statement.
Macron on Sunday spoke twice with Putin and once with Biden in a bid to broker the summit, saying overnight that both had agreed "in principle" to meet.
The White House said that such a meeting could take place so long as Russia did not invade Ukraine. The Kremlin then described talk of a summit as premature and that there were no concrete plans.
03:24 PM
'All signs point to Russia recognising breakaway regions'
Everything said in the extraordinary session of Russia’s security council points towards recognition of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in possible preparation for war, says our senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, briefed the meeting on an alleged build up of Ukrainian forces in Donbas and an alleged inclusion into Russian territory.
He claimed Ukraine is run by violent ultranationalist and even speculated that Ukraine might even seek a nuclear bomb.
Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, reported that the United States had not met Russia’s proposals for a compromise and it was not clear where diplomacy was heading.
Dmitry Kozak, the man in charge of talks with Ukraine, said the Minsk peace process was at “zero”.
Mikhail Mishustin, the prime minister, finally briefed the meeting on the risks the country would face - and why it was well prepared for them.
Recognition doesn't have to mean war: Mr Putin could simply in troops to secure the territory the separatists currently hold and stop at the current line of contact, to pile even more incremental pressure on Ukraine.
But the separatists only control about a third of the territory they claim. The rest of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are under Ukrainian control.
If he decides to uphold those claims, it will mean war. And his ministers and advisers have just laid out a smorgasbord of dubious excuses to justify an even wider invasion.
03:15 PM
Pro-Russian separatists pretend comrade has leg blown off
The Kremlin's information war on Ukraine has faced ridicule after a video released by pro-Russian separatists appeared to show a man pretending that his leg had been blown off in a Ukrainian artillery strike, reports Colin Freeman.
The video, released by the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, showed a man writhing on the ground in agony with his left leg missing below the knee.
However, as comrades picked him up to carry him away, the camera inadvertently showed that his left leg was already a prosthetic one, the lower half of which had been detached.
The footage was later removed from social media, but not before it had been widely shared. "They need a bigger production budget," said one Twitter user.
The DPR just uploaded a video of a man who according to them had his leg blown off by a Ukrainian artillery strike. As they move him, you can see that he in fact has a prosthesis on that leg already. The propaganda is reaching crazy levels. pic.twitter.com/lV9Va7uyiP
Poland to hold ‘extraordinary’ Europe security meeting at request of Ukraine
Poland is to chair an “extraordinary” OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) meeting today after receiving a written request from Ukraine’s representative as a result of “rapidly deteriorating security situation on the ground”.
Secretary General of OSCE Helga Maria Schmid said on Twitter that this was an “extraordinary meeting” which “will brief states about our efforts and the potential way forward.”
The head of OSCE’s Special Monitoring mission will also be in attendance, the work of which Ms Schmid said was “critical to counter disinformation”.
The meeting comes amidst several suspected “false flag” events by Russia in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
02:55 PM
Time has come to find an 'answer' around Donbas - Vladimir Putin
Back to the Russian Security Council meeting, where Vladimir Putin has said the time has come to find an "answer" to the issue of Donbas, reports our Moscow correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva.
"We need to answer the question that was posed a long time ago," he said, referring to the issue of possible recognition of the Donbas.
"We see threats and blackmailing from our Western counterparts."
Sergei Shoigu, Russia's defence minister, said Russia is seeing signs that the Ukrainian government is preparing for a full-scale operate to take the separatist-held areas by force.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council, told the meeting Ukraine has shown it has given up on the Donbas.
"Ukraine basically doesn't need those territories," he said. "Residents of those areas have not received any support from Ukraine in years."
"We are standing on the brink of recognising those territories."
Mr Medvedev added that "the recognition of those territories will be the only choice" unless the situation in eastern Ukraine will improve.
"As far as I know the majority of people in our country would support this step," he said.
The head of Russia's State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said: "Our citizens live there, 800,000 Russians live there and one more million people there want our nationality, want our citizenship," upon asking Vladimir Putin to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Recent opinion polls showed that Russians are ambivalent about recognising Luhansk and Donetsk.
02:45 PM
'This is a Russian invasion' - Petro Poroshenko
The former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has slammed Russia's fake news, saying the evacuation of civilians from Donetsk and Luhansk in "fake".
“Since 17 February we have had a fake evacuation of people… fake penetration through the Russian border,” he told Sky News.
“This is not a Ukrainian crisis, this is a Russian invasion,” he added.
“Putin has the imagination of a KGB officer.”
"Ukrainians do our best for bringing peace for our land, we definitely stay shoulder to shoulder with our American, European and British partners."
But he warned "instead of going to the shops to buy groceries", Ukrainians are going to buy weapons.
"The only reason Putin hates Ukraine... is that we want to be free, we want to be a democratic country," he said. "We want to return back to the European family."
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Efrem Lukatsky /AP
02:41 PM
Five saboteurs killed, one 'taken prisoner' - FSB
Alexander Bortnikov, the chief of the intelligence agency FSB, told President Putin that "two sabotage groups of Ukrainian servicemen" approached the Russian border from southern Ukraine near Mariupol and near Luhansk.
He said the saboteurs have been killed except for one man who has been taken prisoner.
Mr Bortnikov also told President Putin over 68,000 people have left the Donbas, fleeing the hostilities.
02:34 PM
Kyiv 'sabotaged' 2015 peace deal
Dmitry Kozak, Russia's chief negotiation for the eastern Ukraine talks, told the meeting of Russia's Security Council that although Russia is not party to the conflict it has had to fork out an "astronomical" sum of money to support the residents of the separatist-held part of eastern Ukraine.
Mr Kozak also lamented that the Kyiv has sabotaged the 2015 peace deal by shifting the blame on Russia.
Vladmir Putin asked Mr Kozak, the lead negotiator with Ukraine: "Can you tell me is the Kyiv government going to implement the Minsk agreements?"
Mr Kozak replied: "They never will as far as events go as they have. With Minsk or without Minsk, they don't want to incorporate the Donbas back into Ukraine."
02:19 PM
Joe Biden suggested 'moratorium' on Ukraine joining Nato
Vladimir Putin told the Security Council Joe Biden mentioned to him that there might be a moratorium in place for Ukraine to join Nato. He said that concession was not enough for Moscow.
The Russian leader also quoted Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who tried to convince him last night that Washington was ready to make compromise on the issue but that he saw no sign of it.
Foreign Minister Lavrov told President Putin he would have a call with the French foreign minister later today in a hope to clarify "what was it that the French" hinted at with reference to possible US concessions on Ukraine's Nato membership.
Mr Lavrov also confirmed he will meet his American counter-part Antony Blinken in Geneva on February 24.
02:14 PM
'Progress' in talks with West - Sergei Lavrov
Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, told Vladimir Putin that Russia's security talks with the United States have shown "certain progress."
He lamented, however, Washington's refusal to discuss Russia's demand for Nato to pull out troops from eastern Ukraine and stop Nato's eastward expansion.
“It is important to prevent any military incident. In fact these events are aiming to reduce the importance of our priorities without hurting the main interest of the US and Nato,” he added.
Russia’s proposals “are not a menu that you can choose from”.
“We are ready to discuss with America as well… and we are keen to get answers on all our points. Nato must not expand towards the east, and we must reconsider the military presence in Eastern Europe.”
“Our demand is to get something clear (from the West), they have ignored so many things.”
02:10 PM
Vladimir Putin 'considering' recognising independence of separatist regions
Vladimir Putin, who is chairing an ad-hoc meeting of Russia's Security Council, says the Ukrainian government has made it clear with its actions that it is not going to comply with the Minsk peace agreement.
He asked Russia's foreign minister and then an envoy to the peace talks with Ukraine to present their reports before he would react to an appeal from the separatists to recognise the independence of their states.
"Our goal is to listen to our colleagues and determine our next steps in this direction, bearing in mind both the appeals of the leaders of the DNR (Donetsk People's Republic) and LNR (Lugansk People's Republic) to recognise their independence," Mr Putin said while opening a televised security council meeting.
Mr Putin told the ad-hoc session of Russia's Security Council that the Ukrainian government conducted two majority military operations against the separatists in the Donbas and said it appears there might be another attack.
"As far as I can see we're witnessing an escalation for the third time," he said.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/KREMLIN POOL/SPUTNIK/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock
02:07 PM
Vladimir Putin chairing 'extraordinary' security council meeting
An "extraordinary" security council meeting in Russia has been called amid ongoing tensions with the West over Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is giving opening remarks as Vladimir Putin watches on. We'll bring you live updates as we get them.
01:57 PM
Separatist regions ask Vladimir Putin to recognise independence
Leaders of Ukraine's two self-proclaimed separatist republics has asked Vladimir Putin to recognise their independence, reports our Russia correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva.
Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik in two separate recorded statements called on the Russian president to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk.
President Putin is chairing an extraordinary session of the Russian Security Council later today.
01:42 PM
Russian ambassador slams UK's diplomatic efforts
Russia's ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin has given scathing assessment of British diplomatic efforts.
He told PA the UK has offered no constructive solutions, contrasting the efforts of Boris Johnson's administration with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who are both perceived to have a softer position towards Russia than the UK or US.
"Of course we see all the diplomatic telephone calls, visits to each other, endless visits to each other, endless conversations," Mr Kelin told the PA news agency. But he could see "no UK role in search of constructive solutions".
While the French and Germans were doing that, "as for the UK, I'm seeing nothing".
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Aaron Chown /PA
He criticised Foreign Secretary Liz Truss following her occasionally testy visit to Moscow for talks with counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"She didn't listen to the arguments, she tried to be deaf to the arguments," he said, accusing her of responding to Moscow's position with "a small number of slogans".
The visit of Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was "much more diplomatic", he suggested.
Mr Kelin also warned Russia would respond with sanctions against the UK if Boris Johnson imposed punitive measures on Moscow.
01:28 PM
Oryol Oblast declares a state of emergency over wave of refugees
Oryol Oblast has declared a state of emergency for ensuring the placement of refugees from the Donbas region, reports Genevieve Holl-Allen.
The decision was taken today in an unscheduled meeting of the Commission for the Prevention and Liquidation of emergency situations and Fire Safety of the region, led by Governor Andrei Klichkov, according to a post from the region’s official social media account.
Mr Klichkov emphasised that this measure was taken “to mobilise available resources”, and to “promptly fulfil tasks related to the placement of displaced people from Donetsk and Luhansk regions”.
It joins the Kursk, Penza, Rostov and Volgograd regions in declaring a state of emergency as a result of refugees arriving en masse from Donbas, among others.
01:01 PM
'Five Ukrainians killed' on Russian soil
Russia's defence ministry says they killed five Ukrainian men and destroyed two armoured vehicles before they breached the border in Russia, our Moscow correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva reports.
Russia's Southern Military District said in a s statement the Russian military and the FSB intelligence agency "prevented a group of Ukrainian saboteurs from breaching the Russian border."
The Russian military also said two armoured vehicles drove across the border to evacuate the alleged saboteurs. The vehicles were destroyed.
The Southern Military District did not give the location for the incident or any photos or video.
The Ukrainian military has dismissed the report as "fake news" and said they have no forces present in the Rostov region.
12:57 PM
Vladimir Putin's plan to invade Ukraine 'already begun'
Our Political and Defence Correspondent Danielle Sheridan is reporting Russia will mount an invasion into Ukraine with parts of Vladimir Putin's plan having already begun, Downing Street has warned.
However the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman cautioned that a "window for diplomacy" still existed.
He said: "Intelligence we are seeing suggests Russia intends to launch an invasion and President Putin's plan has in effect already begun."
"We are seeing elements of the Russian playbook we would expect to see in those situations starting to play out in real time."
"Crucially we still think there is a window for diplomacy. I think that is what we have seen in discussions over the weekend and we want to explore those."
12:51 PM
Kremlin planning 'extremely violent' invasion, US warns
Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine, American National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has warned.
Speaking to NBC News, Mr Sullivan said the US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tells NBC this am that Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine. US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”
The Defence Secretary will address the House of Commons on the Ukraine crisis at 3.30 this afternoon, giving a prepared statement.
12:35 PM
Western assertions of Russian attack becoming a 'meme'
Repeated statements from Western nations that Russia is ready to invade Ukraine has become “a meme”, the official spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry has said.
“Look, we are supposedly in a state of ‘invasion’ - it seems to me that this is already some kind of meme. We have been here for a month already, maybe more” Maria Zakharova has said on Russia’s main state television channel Channel One.
Russia news site Izvestiia, reporting Zakharova’s comments, cited Boris Johnson and Jen’s Stoltenberg’s statements made yesterday about Russia’s plans for invasion, as well as Liz Truss’ comments about the “false flag” operations witnessed in Ukraine.
12:25 PM
Ukraine today, in pictures
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Alexander Ryumin /TASS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - ALEXEY PAVLISHAK /REUTERS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Ethan Swope /Bloomberg ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - ANATOLII STEPANOV /AFP
12:12 PM
Dominic Raab chairing Cobra meeting
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab is currently chairing an emergency Cobra meeting on the crisis in Ukraine, according to reports.
Boris Johnson is not thought to be involved in the meeting, but did receive a "detailed briefing" on the situation this morning.
12:06 PM
'Vladimir Putin has embarrassed Emmanuel Macron - again'
The French President's attempt to broker a deal with Russia could be doing more harm than good, says our Paris correspondent Henry Samuel.
Is Emmanuel Macron a glutton for punishment? It certainly looks that way given his willingness to seek to broker peace with Vladimir Putin only to be humiliated.
The first slap came after the French president spent five hours across that endlessly long marble table in Moscow to wrench a commitment not to escalate the situation on the Ukrainian border from the Russian president. Within hours, intelligence on the ground suggested Putin had decided to ride roughshod over that pledge.
Ukrainian separatists request Russian military aid
A Ukrainian separatist official has appealed to Russia for military and financial aid, reports our Moscow correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva.
Eduard Basurin, an official in Ukraine's self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said in a broadcast on Russia's Solovyov Live show that Donetsk needs “first of all moral (help), financial I would also not refuse, military is also necessary, in all aspects.”
Other officials in Donetsk have not yet commented.
Russia has propped up the separatists with funds and troops since the fighting there broke out in 2014 but the Russian troops have only been involved in clandestine operations, and Moscow has insisted that it was not party to the conflict.
Mr Basurin also said that citizens had been left without drinking water, which he called an act of “genocide” by Kyiv, according to RIA News.
Reports from the Donetsk’s People’s Republic have said that the water filtration station in Donetsk had been put out of action due to shelling.
Calls for assistance from the Donetsk People’s Republic come amidst a series of false flag attacks by Russia. Footage of recent so-called Ukrainian attacks on the region have been debunked through examination of the videos’ metadata.
11:53 AM
Joe Biden asked Emmanuel Macron to offer Vladimir Putin summit
Joe Biden had asked Emmanuel Macron to make the offer of a summit between Mr Biden and Vladimir Putin to the Russian President, said an official from the French Presidency.
"We're slowly changing the course of things. We're creating a diplomatic perspective the Kremlin accepts," said the French presidential adviser.
In an apparent attempt to deflect blame away from Paris, the advsier added: "It is today possible to move towards a summit... Now it is up to President Putin to make his choice."
The official went on to describe the situation as "very dangerous" and the parties as "walking a fine line".
"He is a facilitator," added the French presidential adviser, commenting on Mr Macron's role.
French newspaper Le Figaro has warned that it is arguable whether a politics of "appeasement" with Mr Putin was worth it.
"It may have short-term advantages," the outlet wrote in an editorial. "But in the long run, it's hard to see how brandishing an 'olive branch' before tanks is a policy capable of forcing Vladimir Putin's respect."
The Kremlin today said Mr Putin and Mr Biden could set up a call or meeting any time but there were no concrete plans yet for a summit.
11:47 AM
Biden-Putin summit can't solve anything without Ukraine, Kyiv says
Russian President Vladimir Putin but nothing can be solved without Kyiv's involvement, Ukraine's top security official has said.
"No one can resolve our issue without us," Oleksiy Danilov told a briefing. "Everything should happen with our participation."
Mr Biden and Mr Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, France's President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, though the Kremlin this morning said it was "premature" to organise any such meeting.
11:31 AM
Invasion cost must be 'intolerably high', says Liz Truss
Met @jensstoltenberg@NATO. Diplomacy must be pursued but a Russian invasion of Ukraine looks highly likely. The UK and allies are stepping up preparations for the worst case scenario. We must make the cost for Russia intolerably high. pic.twitter.com/RNXGSaQBAQ
Olaf Scholz to hold telephone talks with Vladimir Putin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone later today in a further effort to ease tensions over Ukraine, the German government spokesman said.
Steffen Hebestreit said the planned call "this afternoon" had been "closely coordinated" with French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke to Mr Putin several times on Sunday.
He said the talks were part of "joint diplomatic efforts" by the West to "prevent a catastrophe" in Ukraine.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV /AFP
11:10 AM
Prospect of war 'very real', says Tobias Ellwood
The prospect of war in Europe has become "very much real", a Tory MP has said.
Speaking to TalkRadio, Tobias Ellwood said "the prospect of war in Europe is very much real, I think we're going to see it actually happening in the next few days. I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope for this final bit of diplomacy but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be explored."
"The relative peace that you and I have grown up with in the last three or four decades is actually quite fragile, it's actually quite unique, it's not the normal. You need to be determined to defend our way of life. The West needs to work with greater resolve as one to challenge this authoritarianism."
Mr Ellwood added that the current situation is a "flashback" to the appeasement policies of 1938, 3echoiung views expressed by Ben Wallace a week ago that the current tensions had a "whiff of Munich".
"When do you stop agreeing to what those terms are because we're about to see a regime dictator invade another country. Nato is a defensive organisation, it should defend European democracy and I think there's a lot more that needs to be done by the most formidable military alliance in the world to defend Europe. If we agree to Putin's terms now, where does he go next?" Mr Ellwood asked.
US President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet at a summit on the Russian threat to Ukraine
The Ukrainian military on Monday denied shelling a border facility used by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), calling Moscow's claim "fake news".
"We couldn't stop them producing this fake news, but we always emphasise that we do not shoot at civilian infrastructure, or into some territory in the Rostov region or whatever," Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchuk told reporters.
10:47 AM
Air France cancels flights to Kyiv ‘until further notice’
Air France has suspended all flights to Kyiv “until further notice” amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Le Parisien reports.
The spokesman for the airline has said: “We have taken this decision for the safety of our passengers and our crews.”
“The flight scheduled for Tuesday morning is cancelled. The situation will be reevaluated in the coming weeks.”
The company has said that the situation will be re-assessed "regularly".
Air France is the latest airline to suspend flights to and from the Ukrainian capital, with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SAS also suspending flights to the country over the weekend.
Dutch carrier KLM became the first airline to suspend flights to the Ukraine on February 12, with that route yet to reopen.
10:37 AM
7,000 ‘refugees’ relocated across Russia
Over 7,000 evacuees from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been moved on from Rostov to regions across Russia over the course of a day, RIA News reports.
The Ministry for Emergency Situations has announced that 43 regions are ready to accept “refugees” following the evacuation of the separatist areas over the weekend.
The region surrounding Russia’s capital is expecting to receive 1,500 civilians today alone, according to the governor of Moskovskaya Oblast Andrei Vorobyov. He said in a weekly meeting of district leaders and regional ministers that they are due to arrive in the administrative centre of the region, Naro-Fominsk to be later settled in towns throughout the region.
400 “temporary accommodation points” have been prepared across the country, with an overall capacity of 42,000 people. RIA News reports that there are a further 149 in reserve with more than 54,000 spaces.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - VLADIMIR LAVROV /REUTERS
10:24 AM
'Toothless President Biden is failing the West'
His hapless leadership and utter lack of vision has diminished America on the world stage, says Nile Gardiner.
The increasingly likely Russian invasion of Ukraine is a wake-up call for the West, a shattering of the illusion that the spectre of war can be banished from modern-day Europe. Tens of thousands may die on the altar of the vainglorious imperial ambitions of a vicious regime in Moscow headed by a brutal tyrant. Kyiv, one of the biggest cities in Europe, could be conquered by invading Russian troops in what might be the biggest urban battle the European continent has witnessed since the Second World War.
The impending war in Ukraine has exposed not just the impotence and shameful appeasement mindset of Europe’s ruling elites in Brussels, Berlin and Paris. It has also sharply illustrated the tragic decline of American leadership on the world stage.
Russian border post 'destroyed by shell', claim FSB
Russia's intelligence agency FSB has claimed a projectile launched from the Ukraine-controlled part of the border with the Donbas hit a Russian border guards post, reports our Moscow correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva.
The FSB said in a statement on Monday an unidentified shell fired from Ukraine "destroyed" the Russian border post situated in Russia about 150 metres away from the border. No casualties were reported.
The FSB said the border post was in Rostov Oblast, but did not name the precise location.
Sporadic shelling across the line dividing Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east has intensified since Thursday.
And here's a video from the FSB of the border checkpoint allegedly destroyed by a Ukrainian shell this morning pic.twitter.com/xUmZMQYTG7
Vladimir Putin calls 'extraordinary' meeting of Russia's security council
Vladimir Putin will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday, his spokesman has said.
"This will be a big Security Council. There will be a speech by the head of state as well as other speeches," Mr Peskov said.
The security council acts as a platform for determining and coordinating national security policy.
It is composed of Russia′s leading state officials and heads of defence and security agencies and chaired by the nation's president.
09:46 AM
7,000 extra troops on border, minister says
There are 7,000 more Russian troops on the Ukrainian border than there were a few days ago, a business minister has said.
Paul Scully told Sky News the number had been bolstered "despite the Russians trying to signal the fact they were pulling away from the border".
He said: "So there is a very, very credible threat and that's why we've got to continue to be vigilant, we've got to continue to work with Ukraine and Poland, as Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, was doing just this week."
He warned "the loss of life will be horrendous" if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not engage in diplomacy.
09:33 AM
‘Tens of thousands’ of casualties expected ‘in opening days’ of Russian attack
Tens of thousands of casualties are expected “in the opening days” of conflict if Russia decides to attack Ukraine, a senior US intelligence official told the New York Times.
Previous predictions that Vladimir Putin would launch an assault on Ukraine in the form of a "minor incursion" are now considered less likely than a single nationwide attack by some US intelligence officials.
Russia’s plans for invasion - some of which have been seen by officials at the Pentagon - include “overwhelmingly intense fire”, according to the New York Times. There are fears that Ukraine could see "intense" rocket attacks and fighting on the streets of Kyiv.
Russian troops - which are to remain in Belarus after the completion of joint military exercises this weekend - are located just 100 miles away from Kyiv on Belarus’ border with the country, providing further evidence that Kyiv is the primary target.
Fears of an intense bombardment of Ukraine are heightened by Russia’s approach to military action in Syria, where 39,000 Russian airstrikes have taken place since 2015, compared to the America's 19,904, with as many as 23,000 dead, according to Airwars. Russian airstrike targets included civilian sites such as hospitals.
09:18 AM
US warns Russia has 'hit list' for after invasion
America has warned the United Nations it has information that Russia has lists of Ukrainians "to be killed or sent to camps" in the event of an invasion, according to a letter sent to the UN rights chief and obtained by several international media outlets.
The letter, which came as Washington warned of an imminent invasion by Russian troops massed near the Ukrainian border, says the United States is "deeply concerned" and warns of a potential "human rights catastrophe."
The United States has "credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation," the letter says.
Russia dismissed the letter, calling the existence of any such list of names "an absolute lie".
09:05 AM
Slap sanctions on Russia now, Ukraine tells the EU
The European Union must start imposing some sanctions on Russia now to show it is serious about wanting to prevent a war, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said as he arrived in Brussels to meet the bloc's foreign ministers.
Western countries fear a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine in recent weeks is a prelude to an invasion and say this would trigger "massive" sanctions against Moscow. Russia denies any plans to invade but wants sweeping security guarantees.
"We expect decisions," Mr Kuleba said. "There are plenty of decisions the European Union can make now to send clear messages to Russia that its escalation will not be tolerated and Ukraine will not be left on its own."
"We believe that there are good and legitimate reasons to impose at least some of the sanctions now to demonstrate that the European Union is not only talking the talk about sanctions, but is also walking the walk."
But the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell appeared to reject the idea of immediate sanctions, saying he still saw room for diplomacy.
Speaking shortly before Mr Kuleba, Mr Borrell told reporters he would convene an extraordinary EU meeting to agree sanctions "when the moment comes".
08:49 AM
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron held two phone calls on Sunday
Presidents Macron and Putin held two separate phone calls on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, the Kremlin press secretary confirmed.
Dmitry Peskov said today that the second phone call had been held overnight at the instigation of Mr Macron, and that the leaders had continued their conversations about “the necessity for continuing dialogue” through foreign ministries and political advisors within the Normandy format.
France’s Europe Minister Clement Baune said that the French president had revived “diplomatic hope” after proposing a US-Russia summit on the Ukraine crisis, to which both Mr Biden and Mr Putin have provisionally agreed.
He told LCI TV that “if there is still a chance to avoid a confrontation and build a political and diplomatic solution, then we need to take it.”
08:39 AM
Russian troop movement captured on satallite
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES /via REUTERS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES /via REUTERS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES /via REUTERS
08:26 AM
Russian troops to stay in Belarus unless there's 'objective necessity to leave'
Russian troops will remain in Belarus following the end of planned military exercises until there is an “objective necessity” for them to leave, the Belarussian Ministry of Defence has said.
“Russian armed forces units will return to their permanent bases only when there is an objective necessity and when we have determined that ourselves” the Belarussian military said in a statement today, according to reports by Russian news organisation RBK.
The Ministry also maintained that they had a right to demand the withdrawal of US and Nato troops from nearby borders.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - HANDOUT/AFP
08:09 AM
Four Russian false flags that are comically easy to debunk
Analysts are pouring over video footage of purported standoffs and attacks as Europe teeters on the edge of war. Verity Bowman takes a look at how to spot disinformation.
For weeks Britain and the United States have been warning of Russian false flag attacks to create a justification for military action.
But in the age of social media, the Kremlin’s propaganda battle and disinformation campaigns by pro-Russian forces are easier to spot than ever before.
Analysts are pouring over video footage of purported standoffs and attacks as Europe teeters on the edge of war - all of them devised to create confusion and doubt and ultimately paint Ukraine as the aggressor.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - VLADIMIR LAVROV /REUTERS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Roman Demyanenko /TASS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Dmitry Rogulin /TASS ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - Alexandr Kulikov /AP
07:45 AM
EU supports further talks between US and Russia, Josep Borrell says
The European Union supports the latest attempt to arrange further talks between Washington and Moscow to find a diplomatic solution amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's borders, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
"Summit meetings, at the level of leaders, at the level of ministers, whatever format, whatever way of talking and sitting at the table and trying to avoid a war, is badly needed," Mr Borrell told reporters in Brussels ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
"We will support anything that can make diplomatic conversations the best way, the only way to look for a solution to the crisis," he added, after France announced US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine.
His statement comes as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday accused Moscow of playing an "irresponsible" game with the civilian population of eastern Ukraine, putting their lives at risk.
ukraine russia invasion news latest putin biden war updates - YVES HERMAN /REUTERS
"I urgently call on the Russian government, on the Russian president: Don't play with human lives," she told reporters on arrival for a meeting with her EU counterparts in Brussels.
"What we have seen over the last 72 hours in terms of attacks, violent disputes is really concerning," she said. "The responsibility lies with the Russian government which is why I call urgently on the Russian government: Come back to the negotiating table. It is in your hands."
07:30 AM
Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin agree 'in principle' to diplomatic summit
Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine if the feared Russian invasion does not take place.
The summit would take place after a scheduled meeting between US secretary of state Antony Blinken and his Russian opposite number, Sergei Lavrov, which is also conditional on Moscow not pressing ahead with military action.
Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, announced the move in a statement on Sunday night amid mounting fears in the US that an invasion is imminent.
However, several administration officials on Sunday played down the reports of a possible summit, saying that Mr. Putin has a history of agreeing to talks even as he prepares for — and ultimately engages in — armed conflict.
It followed a day of shuttle diplomacy by French president Emanuel Macron, who spoke to both Mr Biden and Mr Putin.
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