Highlights: Nearly 200,000 Russian troops on border, says Ukraine President

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenksy said on Wednesday that Russia had massed nearly 200,000 troops on Ukraine's borders as a conflict between the two neighbours appeared increasingly likely.

On the Ukrainian border "nearly 200,000 soldiers are stationed, (as are) thousands of combat vehicles," Zelensky said in an address to the nation.

Ukraine president says he unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin, according to a report by news agency AFP.  He also said that nearly 200,000 Russian troops on border.

Ukraine is coming under a "continuous" cyberattack, the state cyber security agency said on Wednesday, with attacks sharply escalating in the past week.

Lawmakers in Ukraine have approved a nationwide state of emergency amid fears of an all-out Russian invasion. Read More

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the United States would impose sanctions on the company in charge of building Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, expanding penalties on Moscow after it recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and told its citizens in Russia to flee, while Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy in the latest ominous signs for Ukrainians who fear an all-out Russian military onslaught.

The United States has warned Ukraine there will be a full-scale Russian invasion in 48 hours, according to a report in British newspaper Daily Mail.

The United States will sanction the company building Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a source tells Reuters.

A Ukrainian soldier died in a shelling attack near the frontline with the Moscow-backed separatist east, the armed forces said, as fears mount of a Russian invasion. Ukraine's army did not specify the location of the attack, saying only that one soldier "suffered fatal injuries" and another was wounded in the shelling.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky demanded "immediate" security guarantees from the West and Moscow aimed at averting a feared Russian invasion. "Ukraine needs security guarantees. Clear, specific, and immediate," Zelensky said, adding, "I believe that Russia must be among those countries giving clear security guarantees."

Minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said the government is trying to reach out to Indian students and other people abroad, especially in Ukraine. “They should stay in touch with our embassy. Embassy will help them out,” Lekhi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

President Zelensky said the future of European security is being decided in Ukraine.

Russia's foreign ministry said new sanctions by the United States will be met with a "strong response' and will be 'sensitive for the American side'.

Russian state-run news agency Tass reported Moscow has started evacuating diplomatic personnel from Ukraine.

Britain will provide further military support to Ukraine, including lethal defensive weapons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.

"In light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia and in line with our previous support, the UK will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine. This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid," Johnson told Parliament.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Russian President Vladimir Putin no longer accepted Ukraine's independence under international law.

Ukraine mobilised its military reserve Wednesday and urged its citizens to leave Russian territory as Moscow sharpened its demands, increasing fears of all-out war. Read more

A top security official said Ukraine will introduce the state of emergency in all Ukrainian territory apart from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The official said the state of emergency would last 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days.

Ukraine security council has called for state of emergency amid tensions with Russia, reports AFP.

Pope calls for restraint in face of 'increasingly alarming scenarios' in Ukraine amid the European country's tension with Russia, reports AFP.

We are very much expecting full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, says UK foreign secretary Liz Truss.

Today Donetsk and Luhansk applied officially to Russia for recognition of their independence. But from the very beginning,US started its internal influence in domestic affairs in countries on all post-Soviet space, including Ukraine: Russia's deputy chief of mission, New Delhi

New Zealand's foreign ministry Russian ambassador Georgii Zuev to condemn Moscow's recent announcements related to Ukraine.