British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a host of sanctions against Russia in a strongly worded address of UK parliament in which he declares an invasion of Ukraine must fail.
Mr Johnson said sanctions would be implemented against 5 Russian banks and 3 Russian individuals.
Look back at how the situation unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- UK imposes sanctions on Russian banks, influential individuals
- Russia recognises Ukraine-held areas as part of rebel areas
- Germany orders withdrawal of key document needed for certification of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia
- Sanctions against Russia by the US and UK are expected soon
- 'Very dark day in Europe': UK Health Secretary says the invasion of Ukraine has begun
- Moscow says it is still ready for Ukraine talks with US: AFP
- Ukraine Foreign Affairs Ministry says 'quasi-entities' will have no legal standing
- Federal government confirms Australia's embassy in Ukraine has closed
- The UN 'has been hit by the virus spread by the Kremlin': Ukraine
- Russia blames Ukraine for Donbas incursion, accuses West of 'egging on' Ukraine towards conflict
- Treaties with Donetsk and Luhansk say Russia can build military bases in eastern Ukraine
- We won't give up any of our land, Ukrainian President says
- Russian claims of peacekeeping are 'nonsense': Morrison
- What you need to know about Donetsk, Luhansk, Donbas and Russia's decision to recognise their independence
- The United Nations' response
- Putin orders Russian 'peacekeepers' to Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine
- What happened overnight?
Live updates
By Jacqueline Howard
That is all for the updates this evening
Between now and the morning, we can expect more foreign leaders to speak on the situation, and potentially the US and EU to formally announce their first sets of sanctions on Russia.
You can keep up to date with all of the latest news and developments online at ABC News, or on the ABC News app.
Goodnight.
By Jacqueline Howard
UK, Baltic states to conduct preventive military activities in northern Europe
A British-led expeditionary group that includes the Baltic states will carry out a series of integrated military activities across their part of northern Europe.
The announcement came after a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a British-led grouping made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
"We have ... agreed to undertake a series of integrated military activities across our part of northern Europe, at sea, on land and in the air," said British defense minister Ben Wallace.
"For example, we will shortly conduct an exercise demonstrating JEF nations freedom of movement in the Baltic Sea. These and subsequent activities will remain preventative and proportionate."
By Jacqueline Howard
Hungary to deploy some troops near its border with Ukraine
Hungary will deploy some troops near its border with Ukraine, partly in preparation for humanitarian tasks, the defense ministry said on Tuesday on the government's official Facebook page.
"Hungary's security is the most important, we are reinforcing the Ukraine-Hungary border," the statement said.
The ministry said that due to the Ukraine-Russia crisis, defending the borders and preparing for a humanitarian mission were equally important tasks.
Reporting by Reuters
By Jacqueline Howard
Russia risks Champions League final hosting over Ukraine
Officials at European football's governing body have been holding discussions on the impact of Russia's deepening intervention in Ukraine on whether the Champions League final can still be staged in St. Petersburg.
The showpiece game in European football is due to be played in the Russian city on May 28, the biggest sporting event in the country since the 2018 World Cup.
Reporting by Associated Press
By Jacqueline Howard
Johnson: Putin must fail
"The House should be in no doubt that the deployment of these forces in sovereign Ukrainian territory amounts of a renewed invasion of that country," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons.
"We must now brace ourselves for the next possible stages of Putin's plan. The violent subversion of areas of eastern Ukraine by Russian operatives and their hirelings, followed by a general offensive by the nearly 200,000 Russian troops gathered on the frontiers at peak readiness to attack."
“Putin’s venture in Ukraine must fail”, he says. "And it must be seen to fail."
By Jacqueline Howard
UK imposes sanctions on Russian banks, influential individuals
"Putin is establishing the pretext for a full scale offensive," he said.
The Prime Minister announced sanctions of five Russian banks and three high-net worth Russian individuals.
Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, and the individuals will be banned from coming to the UK.
The sanctioned banks are Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank.
The individuals sanctioned are Gennadiy Nikolayevich Timchenko, Boris Romanovich Rotenberg and Igor Arkadyevich Rotenberg.
Mr Johnson said further sanctions were ready to be imposed should Russia continue down this path.
By Michael Doyle
Photojournalist in Ukraine shares fears of escalating conflict
By Jacqueline Howard
Watch UK PM Boris Johnson announce sanctions live
On the agenda for the sitting in the House of Commons is the announcement of sanctions against Russia.
By Jacqueline Howard
What has China said?
Has China commented?
-Joshua
China has commented on the situation, calling for peace, but hasn't taken sides.
Earlier this evening, Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone about the situation with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
The legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, Mr Wang said, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry
"The situation in Ukraine is worsening," Mr Wang reportedly told Mr Blinken.
"China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint."
Source: Reuters
By Jacqueline Howard
Ukrainian President responds to Russian recognition of Ukraine-held areas as part of rebel areas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday played down the possibility of a large-scale escalation in the east of the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognising the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk controlled by Russia-backed separatists.
"We are seeing an attack on our sovereignty and on the territorial integrity of our state. It's clear. I also want to say that I have received a request from the Foreign Ministry to consider the breaking of diplomatic relations with Russia. After the conference, I will consider this and other issues," he said.
"We believe that there won't be a large-scale war against Ukraine and there won't be a large-scale escalation from Russians. But if there is one, then we will impose martial law."
Mr Zelenskyy also agreed it was necessary to impose immediate sanctions on Moscow which would include the shutdown of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
"Europe and the world can't let the tragic mistakes made in Georgia in 2008 be repeated. We agreed that it's necessary to immediately impose sanctions for the act of aggression against Ukraine. These sanctions should include full shutdown of Nord Stream 2 operation."
Reporting by Associated Press
By Jacqueline Howard
Switzerland may wait to impose sanctions on Russia
Switzerland is liaising with other countries on potential sanctions against Russia and may not act immediately, the government said on Tuesday.
If new international sanctions are imposed on Russia, the Swiss cabinet will analyse the situation and then decide on what steps to take, if any.
"It follows that Swiss measures could not be taken simultaneously with those of other countries," the economy ministry said in response to a query.
"Nevertheless, we can confirm that the Swiss authorities are in contact with several countries to exchange information on the current situation."
Neutral Switzerland in 2014 did not adopt European Union sanctions imposed on Russia for annexing Crimea, instead implementing its own measures designed to keep the country and its financial centre from being used to circumvent EU measures.
Switzerland is obliged under international law to implement only sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
Reporting by Reuters
By Jacqueline Howard
Russia recognises Ukraine-held areas as part of rebel areas
Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces.
The statement further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up the recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has recognised the rebel regions’ independence “in borders that existed when they proclaimed” their independence in 2014.
Ukrainian forces later reclaimed control of large part of both regions during a nearly eight-year conflict that has killed over 14,000 people.
Reporting by Associated Press
By Jacqueline Howard
Finland says Russian action in Ukraine could affect joint nuclear project
Russia's actions in Ukraine will have an impact on the security assessment for a joint Finnish-Russian nuclear plant project in northwest Finland, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters on Tuesday.
"Security will certainly be one factor in the review," Mr Niinisto said.
He declined to comment on the likely outcome of the assessment and added the Finnish government would make the final decision on whether a construction permit is granted.
The plant is a joint project between a consortium of Finnish utilities and a subsidiary of Russian state company Rosatom which holds a 34 per cent stake. Finland has been preparing the venture for 10 years, eight of them with Russia as partner.
Mr Niinisto also said the European Union would make a decision on Tuesday on the first set of sanctions in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
Reporting by Reuters
By Jacqueline Howard
What have some of the EU leaders said?
Thomas Byrne, Irish Minister of State for European Affairs:
"One of the things that Putin, I think, fears as the whole climate change agenda where we have we're trying to remove our dependence on gas, particularly from Russia, but generally for climate, but from Russia. And that's a big long-term problem for Russia. So, I think we've got to accelerate our move to alternative fuels in the coming years, and that's a really, really important geopolitical objective as well as being a climate objective as well."
Tytti Tuppurainen, Finnish Minister for European Affairs:
"We are in a very serious situation. Finland strongly condemns the unilateral actions by Russia and Putin. Putin has made a historical mistake. His actions are in clear violation of international law and sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity. EU's response will be strong and united. We have prepared sanctions well before, and we will address them today in our council meetings."
Anna Luhrmann, German Minister of State for European Affairs:
"By recognising the so-called People's Republics in eastern Ukraine, President Putin committed a blatant breach of international law and thereby set back years of diplomatic mediation efforts. As the EU, we will react to this escalation with determination and unity... This time, this crisis, has welded us together as the European Union. It is all the more important that we resolutely continue the deliberations on the future of the European Union and on our ability to act."
Arnoldas Pranckevicius, Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs:
"What we saw yesterday was a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council publicly mocking the world, undermining the world of international norms and international law and undermining the concepts of territorial integrity and sovereignty. How we react as the European Union will define our character and indeed the future of Europe. What we need today is for all European leaders not only to condemn this act, which undermined the United Nations Charter, as well as Paris and Helsinki accords, as well as undermine the process of Minsk and the Normandy format. But we also have to move ahead already with the economic sectorial sanctions. We also have to double our support for Ukraine, including physical presence of political and diplomatic leaders in Kyiv, as well as to rethink our defense posture in the Baltic region, especially when the Russian troops have remained in Belarus after the drills have finished."
Reporting by Associated Press
By Jacqueline Howard
Germany orders withdrawal of key document needed for certification of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia
Germany has taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday, as the West started taking punitive measures against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.
Mr Scholz told reporters in Berlin that his government was taking the measure in response to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.
The pipeline bringing natural gas from Russia to Germany has long been criticised by the United States and some European countries who argue that it increases Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.
Mr Scholz said that the government had decided to “reassess” the certification of the pipeline, which hasn’t begun operating yet, in light of the latest developments.
“That will certainly take time, if I may say so,” he said.
Reporting by Associated Press
By Jacqueline Howard
Russia's lower house votes to back treaties with breakaway Ukrainian regions
Russia's lower house of parliament voted on Tuesday to approve friendship treaties with two self-proclaimed people's republics in eastern Ukraine, escalating a crisis with Ukraine and the West.
The treaties, which enter force once President Vladimir Putin signs them, could pave the way for Moscow to build military bases there, adopt a joint defense posture and tighten economic integration.
Reporting by Reuters.
By Jacqueline Howard
Russian foreign minister brushes off threat of sanctions
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has brushed off the threat of sanctions, saying the West would impose them regardless of events and describing the response to Russia's recognition of two breakaway Ukrainian regions as predictable.
"Our European, American, British colleagues will not stop and will not calm down until they have exhausted all their possibilities for the so-called ‘punishment of Russia’. They are already threatening us with all manner of sanctions or, as they say now, 'the mother of all sanctions'," Mr Lavrov said.
"Well, we're used to it. We know that sanctions will be imposed anyway, in any case. With or without reason."
Reporting by Reuters
By Michael Doyle
As Russia inches closer to war, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv has become a sanctuary
On a freezing winter's morning in downtown Lviv, a small crowd of passers-by form around three Ukrainian soldiers on a street corner holding microphones and playing a keyboard.
The soldiers belt out patriotic ballads as a small boy in the crowd sways to the music and an older man beside him drops a handful of coins into a collection box.
"This is a charity fundraiser for the costs of the Ukrainian fighters in the occupied regions," a sign on the box reads.
As Russia appears to be on the threshold of invasion into Ukraine, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv still feels like a world away.
ABC 7.30 reporter Tom Joyner has written this excellent piece which you can read here.
