Diplomats and government authorities, on the other hand, have failed to rekindle dormant peace talks. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on and why.
With Russian military manoeuvres and training near Ukraine, and the US warning that an invasion might happen within days, the cold of a Cold War hangs over Eastern Europe once more.
The White House has issued stern warnings.
The White House said it didn’t know whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had decided to invade, but that he had gathered all the necessary pieces to do so fast and had ordered Americans in Ukraine to depart within 48 hours.
The State Department will announce the departure of the US embassy in Kyiv, according to US sources. Many observers previously anticipated that any invasion would not begin until after China’s Winter Olympics on February 20.