Thread by @AFP

VIDEO: 'Will it happen? Only Putin knows:' Ukrainians leave as possible invasion looms.

Both tourists and nationals check in at Kyiv airport as they fear for their safety with the standoff between Russia and the West continuing over Ukraine

US to relocate its embassy in Kyiv to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, citing a "dramatic acceleration" in the buildup of Russian forces at the country's border

u.afp.com/wgHx

Troop movements.

@AFP's Allison Joyce photographs US service members based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, preparing deploy to Europe as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalates. Before boarding flights to Europe they must surrender their cell phones

#BREAKING German FM calls on Russia to 'withdraw its troops' around Ukraine

#UPDATE Germany calls on Russia to withdraw its troops around Ukraine, as Chancellor Scholz prepares to meet President Putin over the crisis.

"The situation is particularly dangerous," says Foreign Minister Baerbock. "The responsibility for de-escalation is clearly with Russia"

Russia bolsters military deployment on the borders with Ukraine.

#AFPgraphics map showing Russian troop deployments on the borders with Ukraine and military bases and installations

#BREAKING Some Russian forces near Ukraine returning to bases: ministry

#UPDATE Moscow says some military deployed near Ukraine are returning to their bases, after a build up of Russian forces around Ukrainian borders spurred fears of an invasion.

"Units of the Southern and Western military districts... will begin moving to their military garrisons"

#BREAKING Ukraine and West have managed to 'prevent' Russian escalation: Kyiv

#UPDATE Ukraine's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the country's joint diplomatic efforts with Western allies had managed to deter a feared Russian invasion, and that "diplomacy is continuing to work" u.afp.com/wgyg

#UPDATE Russia's defence ministry spokesman said on Tuesday the country was pulling back some of its forces near the Ukrainian border to their bases, in what would be the first major step towards de-escalation in weeks of crisis with the West u.afp.com/wgyR

#BREAKING Russia confirms planned pullback of some troops from Ukraine border after drills: Kremlin

#BREAKING Russian lawmakers call on Putin to recognise Ukraine separatist statelets

#BREAKING Putin, Scholz begin talks in Moscow over Ukraine security

#BREAKING NATO chief says 'cautious optimism' over Russia signals on Ukraine, but no sign of de-escalation

#BREAKING UK intelligence on Russia-Ukraine border crisis 'not encouraging': PM

#UPDATE Russia said on Tuesday it was pulling back some of its forces near the border with #Ukraine to their bases, in what could be the first major step towards de-escalation in weeks of crisis with the West u.afp.com/wgyR

#BREAKING Russia's troop withdrawal announcement 'must be followed by action': German foreign minister Baerbock

#BREAKING Putin says 'ready to work further' with West on European security to de-escalate tensions

#BREAKING Diplomatic bid to avert Ukraine war 'far from exhausted': German Chancellor Scholz

#BREAKING 'Lasting security' in Europe only possible 'with Russia': German Chancellor Scholz

#BREAKING Putin says 'of course' Russia does not want war

#BREAKING EU condemns Russian lawmakers' bid to recognise separatist regions in Ukraine

#BREAKING 'Words are good ... acts would be even better,' French foreign minister tells Russia on Ukraine

#UPDATE US Secretary of State Antony #Blinken held a new phone call on the #Ukraine crisis Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei #Lavrov, the State Department said, after their last call on Saturday

#BREAKING In Blinken call, Lavrov urged 'pragmatic dialogue' over 'range of issues raised by Russia': Russian foreign ministry

#BREAKING Macron, Biden agree verification needed of Russian pullback: France

#BREAKING Russia recognition of Ukraine separatist regions would be 'attack without weapons': France

#UPDATE Any recognition by Russia of two eastern Ukrainian separatist regions would represent the equivalent of an attack on the country's sovereignty, France said Tuesday
➡️u.afp.com/wMJL