U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin began virtual crisis talks on Ukraine today, amid Western fears that Moscow plans to attack Kiev.
Biden will tell Putin that Russia will be hit with the toughest sanctions yet if its troops invade Ukraine amid warnings that Moscow is planning to do so in weeks.
The sanctions, which could target Russia's biggest banks and Moscow's ability to convert its national currency roubles into dollars and other currencies, are designed to dissuade the Russian President from using tens of thousands of troops massed near the Ukrainian border to attack its southern neighbour.
The beginning of the talks come as Ukraine warned of a 'bloody massacre' and five million Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Europe if Russia decides to invade Kiev.
The Kremlin said escalating tensions in Europe are 'off the scale' ahead of the crunch talks between Biden and Putin, while Kiev accused Russia of deploying tanks and additional sniper teams near the Ukrainian border.
Satellite images have revealed huge new camps of Russian troops, tanks and artillery along the border as Putin continues massing his forces on Europe's doorstep.
The Kremlin, announcing the start of the virtual meeting, said it would 'last as long as necessary.
Reflecting the tension around the event, the White House staged the video conference behind closed doors in the high security Situation Room. In contrast, Biden held a similar video summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping three weeks ago in the more decorative Roosevelt Room, with journalists invited to witness the opening minutes.
The US President plans to warn Putin of severe economic consequences if Russia invades neighbouring Ukraine in an effort to gain a diplomatic solution to deal with the tens of thousands of Russian troops at the border.
Tensions along Europe's eastern border have been simmering since Putin annexed Crimea back in 2014, and have been threatening to boil over ever since Moscow began massing forces in the region starting in April this year.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin began virtual crisis talks on Ukraine today, amid Western fears that Moscow plans to attack Kiev.
Reservists from Russia's Combat Army Reserve perform firing exercises as part of a training camp at Prudboy firing range near Volgograd, a city in southwest Russia
The Kremlin has warned that escalating tensions in Europe are 'off the scale' ahead of crunch talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden
Russia now has 50 battalions comprising up to 94,000 troops stationed on the Ukrainian border with another 80,000 - 100,000 sitting in reserve and will be ready to invade within weeks, the US has warned
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told CNN there would be a 'really bloody massacre' if Russia invaded Ukraine and warned that 'Russian guys also will come back in coffins
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Moscow regretted what he called the White House's predictable tendency to resort to sanctions, but said that Putin was ready to hear out Biden's concerns and that the Kremlin leader wanted to set out his own.
'There's no need to expect any breakthroughs from this conversation. It is a working conversation at a very difficult period,' Peskov said.
'The escalation of tensions in Europe is off the scale, it is extraordinary, and this requires a personal discussion at the highest level,' he added.
Earlier today, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told CNN there would be a 'really bloody massacre' if Russia invaded Ukraine and warned that 'Russian guys also will come back in coffins'.
The UK has joined Western leaders in vowing to form a 'united front' over Russian hostility toward Ukraine, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowing to use all 'economic and diplomatic tools at the UK's disposal'.
UK Foreign Minister Vicky Ford today said the cost of Russia invading Ukraine would be 'catastrophically high' and the UK is considering an extension of 'purely defensive' support for Kiev.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Russia will be hit with tougher EU sanctions if its military threatens Ukraine.
The Kremlin, which said before the meeting it did not expect any breakthroughs, has denied harbouring intensions to invade Ukraine.
But Moscow has voiced rising vexation over Western military aid to Ukraine, a fellow former Soviet republic that has tilted towards the West since a popular revolt toppled a pro-Russian president in 2014, and what it calls creeping NATO expansion.
Moscow has likewise questioned Ukrainian intentions and said it wants guarantees that Kyiv will not use force to try to retake territory lost in 2014 to Russia-backed separatists, a scenario Ukraine has ruled out.
'We're looking for good, predictable relations with the United States. Russia has never intended to attack anyone, but we have our concerns and we have our red lines,' said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Calling for everyone to keep 'a cool head', Peskov said it was vital that Putin and Biden speak given what he called the extraordinary escalation of tensions in Europe.
The Russian rouble weakened slightly on Tuesday, with some market analysts predicting the talks would de-escalate tensions and others saying that the U.S. sanctions threat eroded hopes of finding common ground.
It comes as Ukraine's defence ministry accused Russia of deploying additional sniper teams and tanks to the front line of the conflict.
The defence ministry said in a statement: 'The enemy increased the number of sniper pairs in readiness to inflict casualties on the personnel of the Joint Forces, destroy video surveillance elements and provoke return fire.'
Rezikov warned that a Russian invasion would have 'disastrous' consequences for Europe as up to five million Ukrainians would seek refuge in the continent. He also said as Ukraine is a major food supplier to Europe and Africa, supply chain issues could occur.
Speaking about Biden and Putin's call later today, Reznikov said: 'If I can advise President Biden, I would like him to articulate to Mr Putin that no red lines from the Kremlin side should be here.
'The red line is here in Ukraine and the civilised world will react without hesitation. The idea of not provoking Russia will not work.'
Reservists from the country's Combat Army Reserve perform firing exercises as part of a training camp at Prudboy firing range near Volgograd
Marines of the Caspian Flotilla conducted exercises at the Adanak training range in Dagestan, the Russian republic by the Caspian Sea
The aviation regiment near Chelyabinsk held warplane training In the sky over Shagol airbase
The Kremlin has demanded a legal commitment that NATO will not expand to include Ukraine as its member.
'If we share or spread panic in our country and inside of our society, it will be the gift to the Kremlin, because they trying to do that,' Rezikov told CNN.
'Because this gathering of their troops alongside of our border, it's a main goal of them to make destabilization process inside of our country, to stop us in our way. But we go into the NATO ally, we're going to EU,' he added.
The defence minister said that while Ukraine has asked its allies for military equipment aid, including training for its troops, from its allies, Kiev will not be asking for troops.
'We don't need troops, because I think it's not so fair that American soldiers will die in Ukraine. No, we don't need that,' said Reznikov.
Western leaders last night vowed to form a 'united front' over Russian threats and hostility toward Ukraine.
The leaders of the US, UK, France, Italy and Germany called on Moscow to de-escalate tensions ahead of the key phone call between Putin and Biden.
They discussed a package of sanctions against Putin's regime should he invade Ukraine, with Boris Johnson vowing to use all 'economic and diplomatic tools at the UK's disposal'.
The leaders are understood to have devised a strategy to impose significant damage on the Russian economy.
UK Foreign Minister Vicky Ford today told the Commons that the cost of Russia invading Ukraine would be 'catastrophically high' and the UK is considering an extension of 'purely defensive' support for Ukraine.
Ford said: 'Any military incursion by Russia into Ukraine would be a strategic mistake. 'The Russian Government should expect significant strategic consequences. The costs of an incursion would be catastrophically high.'
She added: 'Let us be very clear, we stand by Ukraine and we are considering an extension of purely defensive support to Ukraine to help Ukraine defend itself. 'Putin needs to de-escalate now and return to diplomatic channels.'
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Russia will be hit with tougher EU sanctions if its military threatens Ukraine.
'The European Union will respond appropriately to any further aggression including breaches of international law and any other malicious actions taken against us or our neighbours, including Ukraine,' she said in a videolink speech to EU ambassadors.
'This response will take the form of robust scaling-up and expansion of existing sanctions regimes. And on top of that, we are ready to take additional restrictive measures,' she said.
Von der Leyen emphasised the European Union's 'full and unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of this aggression' represented by what she called a 'massive' Russian military buildup along Ukraine's border.
'Currently, it is Russia's deliberate choices and aggressive actions that continue to destabilise security in Europe,' she said.
Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June - the first meeting of the pair since Biden took over the White House. They will speak by phone on Tuesday
Reservists from the country's Combat Army Reserve perform firing exercises as part of a training camp at Prudboy firing range near Volgograd
The aviation regiment near Chelyabinsk held warplane training In the sky over Shagol airbase
Marines of the Caspian Flotilla conducted exercises at the Adanak training range in Dagestan
The aviation regiment near Chelyabinsk held warplane training In the sky over Shagol airbase
Satellite images show increasing numbers of Russian troops massing on the border of Ukraine – as many as 175,000 according to US analysts.
Measures being considered by Nato are understood to include cutting off Russia from the international financial settlement system, according to The Times.
President Biden is expected to warn in his phone call that the US would deploy 'additional forces and capabilities' to Eastern Europe in response to an invasion.
However, it is believed that he would not go so far as to threaten a direct US military response. A Downing Street spokesman said the leaders emphasised the need for 'a united front in the face of Russian threats and hostility'.
Latvia on Tuesday said the West must send a strong message to Russia to deter it from Ukraine, including cutting Russia off from the SWIFT international payment system, sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and strengthening NATO's eastern flank.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rink said: 'Russia needs to know in advance what the economic price tag is.'
Rink said it was unclear if Putin was simply trying to test the West's resolve or if the Kremlin planned a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
'Maybe astrology or some other more precise science needs to be involved. But I do believe that Ukraine for Russia and President Putin is an essential part of the kind of vision of a great Russia,' Rink said.
He said that if Russia does invade Ukraine, the West should prepare a very strong economic sanctions package, including cutting Russia off from the SWIFT international payment system used by banks around the world and sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
The NATO military alliance should also boost its presence across Eastern Europe to deter Putin and individual NATO allies might provide arms to Ukraine, Rink said.
'NATO needs to increase its presence in the eastern flank to show Russia that the price of doing some military adventure in Ukraine is more troops, more defence capability and underlying defence capability in the Baltic States, in Poland, in Romania, in Bulgaria,' he said.
NATO has in recent years strengthened its presence in the Baltic states and across Eastern Europe, a step that has dismayed the Kremlin.
RinkÄviÄs said battle groups in the Baltics should be reinforced, air defences strengthened, logistical security improved and an increased U.S. presence on the ground.
'Seeing what is happening now in and around Ukraine, we need also to review where we are with the defence of the eastern flank of NATO,' RinkÄviÄs said.
'That means more capabilities that could actually send a very strong deterrent message to Russia.'
Russia is adamant the US should guarantee that Ukraine will not be admitted to the Nato military alliance.
The Biden administration refused to rule out deploying additional US troops to Eastern Europe should Putin invade Ukraine, although sources insist there are no plans for direct military action against the Kremlin.
A White House spokesman said Monday evening said that Biden had spoken to the leaders of France, the UK, Germany and Italy, and they discussed 'their shared concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine's borders and Russia's increasingly harsh rhetoric.'
The White House said: 'The leaders underscored their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.'
Biden will threaten Putin with 'substantial economic' sanctions should he invade Ukraine, according to reports. They're likely to be similar to the economic sanctions imposed on Iran over its attempts to develop a nuclear weapon.
The plans against Putin would mirror the way Iran was isolated for failing to comply with the nuclear deal.
It comes as Russia engaged in new war games as Moscow announced that its Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers have made their first flights from a renovated military airport just 105 miles from the Ukrainian border.
'Crews of the Western Military District's bomber regiment have started to perform the first planned flights at the reconstructed Baltimore airfield in Voronezh,' said a military statement.
'During the training flights, the bomber crews practiced takeoff and landing in various weather conditions.'
Russia said last week that the first 17 Su-34 fighter bombers had been deployed at the base - and now flights have started.
New footage shows the Su-34s in action from the revamped base with a two-and-a-half mile long runway giving it 'the ability to accept aircraft of all classes and any size'.
In Chelyabinsk, the command staff of the aviation regiment of the Central Military District (CVO) flew more than 50 sorties in Su-34s and the Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft.
In Dagestan, Black Beret marines of the Caspian Flotilla, supported by aircraft, foiled a mock enemy landing in separate drills.
And Russian reservists were given firepower training during a three day camp, according to reports citing military sources.
They were trained in firing small arms and using RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launchers at the Prudboy combined arms range in Volgograd region.
Ukraine's flag flies as President Volodymyr Zelensky salutes the troops in Kharkiv on Monday during Ukraine's Day of the Armed Forces
Putin has made preparations to invade Ukraine but it's unclear he's made the final decision to do so, a senior US administration official said on Monday.
The official noted the US was ready to show a 'combination of support for the Ukrainian military, strong economic countermeasures, and the substantial increase in support and capability to our NATO allies' if Moscow moved forward with an attack.
The official briefed reporters on the situation in the Ukraine ahead of Biden's call with Putin on Tuesday.
Taking a tough tone ahead of the conversation between the two leaders, the official noted that the U.S. and Europeans are prepared to place 'substantial economic' sanctions on Russia should Putin invade the Ukraine - a message President Biden will send during the virtual talk with his Russian counterpart.
While the official wouldn't commit to the United States putting boots on the ground in the Ukraine to help President Volodymyr Zelensky, the person did say that in the event of an invasion, the US would offer reassurance to NATO allies with additional forces.
'To be clear, we do not know whether President Putin has made a decision about further military escalation in Ukraine. But we do know that he is putting in place the capacity to engage in such escalation should he decide to do so. We've seen this Russian playbook before in 2014 when Russia last invaded Ukraine,' the senior administration official said.
'We have seen the movement of additional capabilities and forces to the vicinity of Ukraine in multiple different areas. And these movements are consistent with the planning that we see underway for a
