The United States and its allies have warned Moscow of grave consequences if 'any' of the tens of thousands of troops massed on the border were to enter Ukraine.
Following talks in Berlin with Germany, France and Britain, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that Russia 'cannot match' Western powers' resoluteness.
If Russia invades Ukraine it would 'drag us all back to a much more dangerous and unstable time, when this continent, and this city, were divided in two... with the threat of all-out war hanging over everyone's heads,' he said.
In a show of unity that has been lacking in recent days, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the West would not shy away from taking action even if that included measures that 'could have economic consequences for ourselves'.
Having drummed up support among his allies, Blinken will today travel from Berlin to Geneva where he will hold talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Satellite images dated January 19 show a battlegroup deployed at Voronezh base around 200 miles from the Ukraine border as Moscow ramps up a military build up along the frontier in preparation for a 'nine-month war'
The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border (pictured, a battle group deployment in Voronezh, Russia, near the Ukrainian border on January 19)
Antony Blinken warned Russia not to attack Ukraine after meeting NATO allies in Berlin, before flying to Geneva (pictured) to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov
Fears are mounting that a major conflict could break out in Europe, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson cautioned that Russia marching on Ukraine would have repercussions beyond the continent. 'It would be a disaster for the world,' he said.
Moscow insists it has no plans to invade but has at the same time laid down a series of demands - including a ban on Ukraine joining NATO - in exchange for de-escalation.
Washington has rejected Moscow's demands as 'non-starters' and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg this week insisted that the alliance 'will not compromise on core principles such as the right for each nation to choose its own path'.
Upping the ante, Russia announced new naval drills that will see it deploy to the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Mediterranean 'more than 140 warships and support vessels, more than 60 aircraft, 1,000 pieces of military equipment, and about 10,000 servicemen'.
The announcement followed an angry condemnation from the Kremlin of what it described as 'destabilising' remarks from US President Joe Biden, after the American leader vowed a 'severe' response to any invasion of Ukraine.
Russia already held joint military drills Wednesday with forces of ex-Soviet republic Belarus, which also neighbours Ukraine.
A US official said the exercises could presage a permanent Russian military presence involving both conventional and nuclear forces in Belarus.
Soldiers of assault engineer and recovery-and-salvage units of the Russian Army 1st Guards Engineer Brigade are seen during tactical and special training in the city of Murom, some 260 km east of Moscow
Pictured: Three soldiers take part in Russian military drills on Tuesday the city of Murom
