Tensions among Ukraine and Russia, which has massed troops alongside the border, has drawn Washington and Moscow right into a Cold War-fashion stand-off.
Here is a timeline of the spiralling situation.
Troop actions
On November 10, NATO warns Moscow approximately taking “competitive action” after Washington reviews uncommon troops actions close to the Ukrainian border.
It comes 5 months after Ukraine accused its large neighbour of massing squaddies alongside its japanese frontier and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Violence withinside the country’s east, grabbed through Russia-sponsored separatists after the invasion, additionally surges.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses the West of “offering current guns to Kyiv” and staging provocative army exercises.
Winter offensive?
On November 28, Ukraine says Russia is massing almost 92,000 troops for an offensive on the give up of January or early February.
Moscow denies this outright and 3 days later accuses Kyiv of a army build-up of its own, demanding “prison guarantees” that it’s going to in no way be a part of NATO.
Virtual summit
On December 7, US President Joe Biden threatens Putin with “robust monetary and different measures” if he invades Ukraine however policies out sending troops to assist Kyiv.
Putin once more needs a prevent to NATO’s eastward expansion.
‘Massive outcomes‘
On December 16, the EU and NATO warn of “large strategic outcomes if there has been a similarly assault on Ukraine’s territorial integrity”.
The subsequent day Moscow places ahead proposals to restrict US have an effect on on former Soviet states.
Talks to ease tensions
On December 28, Washington and Moscow announce European protection talks and days later Biden warns Putin that development relies upon on “de-escalation” of the Ukraine stand-off.
On January 2, 2022 Biden assures Ukraine that Washington and its allies would “reply decisively” if Russia actions to invade.
‘Real’ threat
Three days later EU overseas coverage leader Josep Borrell visits the frontline withinside the east as he pledges the bloc’s complete assist for Ukraine.
On January 8, a senior White House respectable says americaA is prepared to talk about with Russia the 2 countries’ missile structures and army exercises.
Week of diplomacy
On January 10, pinnacle US and Russian officers start per week of traumatic talks in Geneva.
Two days later, NATO and Russia lay out stark variations on Ukraine at a assembly of the NATO-Russia council.
Massive cyberattack
A cyberattack on January 14 in short knocks out key authorities web sites in Ukraine.
Kyiv says it has exposed clues Russia might have been at the back of it.
The equal day US officers allege Russia has operatives in location to perform a “fake flag” operation to create a pretext to invade Ukraine. The Kremlin denies this.
Build-up in Belarus
On Monday Russian troops start arriving in Belarus for snap army drills, which Moscow says are aimed at “thwarting outside aggression”.
US officers say the dimensions of the pressure is “past what we might assume of a ordinary exercise”.
The subsequent day Washington warns that “Russia should at any factor release an assault on Ukraine.”
Meanwhile Moscow says it wishes a reaction from the West to its needs earlier than any greater talks at the eve of Blinken traveling Ukraine.
On Wednesday Washington proclaims an extra $2 hundred million in protection useful resource to Kyiv.
Biden fears ‘invasion’
Washington offers the inexperienced mild to Baltic international locations to hurry US-made guns to Ukraine Thursday.
It additionally hits 4 outstanding Ukrainians with sanctions announcing they are “pawns” of Russian intelligence operating to destabilise the country.
Biden says that any incursion of Russian troops is “an invasion” after acting to indicate a “minor” assault on Ukraine should invite a lesser reaction.
Diplomacy
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he requested Russsian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at a assembly to show Russia isn’t making plans to invade Ukraine and to drag lower back its troops.
Washington guarantees a written reaction to Russian protection needs subsequent week.
Ukraine blames Russia for a marketing campaign of faux bomb threats concentrated on society.
Baltic states flow in
Ex-soviet NATO individuals Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania say they’ll ship anti-tank and anti-plane missiles to permit Ukraine to guard itself.
Russia vows “the maximum extreme outcomes” if Washington maintains ignoring what it stated had been its valid protection worries over Ukraine.