• 10:25 am: the United States calls on its nationals to leave Belarus

The United States has asked its nationals to immediately leave Belarus, an ally of Moscow, because of fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Due to an unusual and concerning increase in Russian military activity near the border with Ukraine, U.S. citizens who are in Belarus or planning to travel there should be aware that the situation is unpredictable and that tension is high in the region,” Washington warned in an advisory released Monday.

  • 10:22 am: Norway reinforces its contingent in Lithuania

Norway has announced the dispatch of "50-60 additional soldiers" to Lithuania as part of NATO's reassurance measures against the backdrop of regional tensions in Ukraine.

"It's mainly about showing solidarity with our allies on the eastern flank near Russia," Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoksen told a news conference.

  • 10:17 a.m .: the Japanese Prime Minister spoke to von der Leyen, before an exchange with Kiev

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed the Russia-Ukraine crisis with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, ahead of a scheduled exchange later in the day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During their phone call, Fumio Kishida and Ursula von der Leyen "expressed their follow-up with great concern of the situation around Ukraine", whose "sovereignty and territorial integrity they support", according to a press release from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two agreed to "continue to coordinate closely for a de-escalation" of tensions, the ministry added.

  • 9:57 a.m .: Ukraine and the West prevented a Russian “escalation”, according to Kiev

Ukraine and the West succeeded in preventing a Russian escalation, welcomed the head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba, shortly after the announcement of the start of a Russian military withdrawal from the outskirts of Ukrainian territory. 

“Together with our partners, we managed to prevent any further escalation from Russia,” the minister said.

  • 9:38 a.m .: still time for Putin to avoid a war in Europe, according to London

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has stressed that there is still time for Vladimir Putin to avoid a war in Europe, but that time is "limited".

"We could be on the brink of a war in Europe, which would have serious consequences, not only for the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, but more broadly for the security of Europe", declared the head of diplomacy British on the Sky News channel.

  • 9:29 a.m .: Russian soldiers deployed near Ukraine return to their bases

Part of the Russian troops deployed in regions bordering Ukraine are returning to their bases after completing military exercises, Russian agencies reported on Tuesday, citing the Ministry of Defense.

According to Interfax, units deployed in the southern and western regions, on Ukraine's eastern border, have finished their maneuvers, although other military exercises are continuing in the rest of the country.

  • 7:34 a.m .: Berlin urges Russia to “withdraw its troops”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has asked Moscow to "withdraw its troops" from the border with Ukraine, believing that "the situation could degenerate at any time" while Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected in Moscow.

"The situation is particularly dangerous and could degenerate at any time" and "we must use all opportunities for dialogue to reach a peaceful solution," said Annalena Baerbock in a statement, adding: "responsibility for de-escalation clearly lies with the side of Russia, and it is up to Moscow to withdraw its troops."

With AFP and Reuters 

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