Satellite images by an American technological company show a new deployment of more than 100 military vehicles and dozens of troop tents in Southern Belarus near the Ukraine border. The images also show a new field hospital appearing in Western Russia, again close to the border with Ukraine, as well as heavy equipment transporters.

Speaking about the tension between Ukraine and Russia, PM Kirill Petkov told reporters in parliament: "We believe in the integrity of Ukraine. If any state, which in this case is Russia, enters foreign territory with tanks, this is a violation of international law."

On its part Hungary has begun to reinforce its border with Ukraine with military units which will perform humanitarian assignments, and prevent infiltration by “armed groups”. Poland and Romania have stated they are ready to receive an inflow of refugees if the crisis escalates.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he was calling off the 24 February meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time,” Antony Blinken said. Because of the exacerbation of the crisis, there will be no Biden-Putin meeting either, but State Secretary Blinken stated the diplomatic efforts of the US and its partners will continue.

The statement by the US Secretary of State comes after holding a meeting with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who informed him that at this point Kyiv was not planning to evacuate major cities or to ask for the deployment of US troops to settle the crisis. According to Minister Kuleba, the sanctions imposed by the US on Russia seem sufficient as a first step. In an interview with Fox News Dmytro Kuleba said the US had promised more weapons shipments to Ukraine.