Vladimir Putin has commenced the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine that the 130,000-strong gathering of soldiers at the border between the two nations has threatened since early December.
The Kremlin had consistently denied it had any intention of seizing Ukraine or toppling its government in Kyiv, instead humouring the diplomatic efforts of US secretary of state Antony Blinken, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK foreign secretary Liz Truss, all of whom visited Moscow to implore Mr Putin to find a peaceful resolution to the tensions, ultimately to no avail.
