Russia

World powers have warned Moscow that they stand ready to impose sanctions that would have a huge and immediate impact on Russia's economy, should it pursue any military aggression against Ukraine. Moscow rejects any plan to attack Ukraine, despite mass military deployment on borders.

Thousands of protesters convened in Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv on Saturday to show unity amid increasing concerns over a Russian invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Saturday over Ukraine tensions and Iran's nuclear programme.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a telephone talk with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday that Washington propaganda campaign on Moscow’s alleged aggression against Ukraine pursued provocative goals.

Diplomats and employees of the Russian consulates have started leaving Ukraine, an informed source told Sputnik on Saturday.

Troops from Russia and Belarus have kicked off the Union Resolve 2022 joint drills at training grounds on Belarusian soil. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Thursday the exercises are part of the second stage of the inspection of the Union State’s response forces.

The U.S. Army general tapped to take over as top commander in the Middle East has warned if Russia invades Ukraine, it could create broader instability in the Middle East, including Syria.

The speculation of Western countries about how many days Kiev can fall in the course of a potential Russian invasion is madness and scaremongering, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Sunday.

Russia says US-based Bloomberg News Agency is publishing baseless stories regarding Moscow’s plans to invade Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov added this makes it clear how dangerous West-triggered tensions are.

Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed to Belarus and will go on air defense combat alert as part of an inspection of the Union State’s Response Force, according to the Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The European Union is negotiating gas supplies with the United States, as well as Qatar, and Azerbaijan, in case Russia decides to cut or stop supplies, High Representative of the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell says.

 A top Russian security official says Moscow is in no way threatening Ukraine, adding all allegations by the US authorities in this regard are total absurdity, Russian  

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian says President Ebrahim Raisi’s recent visit to Russia marked a great achievement for Tehran.

Ukraine is being used as a tool of geopolitical pressure on Moscow, it became a toy in the hands of the US and NATO, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev says.

The Kremlin is keeping an eye on Washington’s steps aimed at stirring up tensions around Ukraine with great concern, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

As tensions intensify over Russia-Ukraine crisis, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has placed roughly 8,500 military personnel on heigh alert to potentially deploy to Eastern Europe, the Pentagon announced.

Moscow has called on the UK to avoid provocations over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It follows a statement by the UK foreign office that Russia seeks to bring to power a pro-Kremlin government in Kiev.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov says Moscow has to keep troops on its territory near the Ukrainian border because of the tense situation and NATO’s actions.

Russia has staged live-fire exercises involving troops and tanks near the Ukrainian border. It comes as Russian and the US negotiators gave no sign of narrowing their differences in briefings after the recent talks in Switzerland.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says a diplomatic solution is still possible to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Binken however warned Russia of “massive consequences” if it continues what he called aggressive actions in Europe.

Peacekeeping forces led by Russia, will be deployed for a ‘limited’ period of time to stabilize the situation in Kazakhstan, the chairman of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has announced.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says NATO is trying to use Kiev as a tool against Moscow. He added the alliance members are systematically transforming Ukraine into a military foothold against Russia.

Russia’s new S-550 air defense system has successfully passed state trials entering combat service, according to a source close to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russian forces have held a military exercise to practice repelling massive air strikes by adversaries. It comes amid a standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine's NATO ambitions.

The Russian military says over 10,000 troops are returning to their permanent bases after a month of training in the region, including in areas near the Ukrainian border.