Ukraine – Russia latest news: PM urges Russia ‘back from brink’ of war as Kiev demands Kremlin meeting in 48hrs

Even if a Russian invasion of Ukraine doesn’t happen in the next few days, the crisis is reaching a critical inflection point with European stability and the future of East-West relations hanging in the balance.

A convergence of events over the coming week could determine whether the stalemate is resolved peacefully or Europe is at war. At stake are Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture and long-agreed limits on the deployment of conventional military and nuclear forces there.

Prime minister Boris Johnson will hold further crisis talks with world leaders in a bid to bring Russia “back from the brink” of war with Ukraine.

It comes as Downing Street warns that a feared Russian invasion of Ukraine could arrive “at any moment.”

A No 10 spokeswoman said: “The crisis on Ukraine‘s border has reached a critical juncture. All the information we have suggests Russia could be planning an invasion of Ukraine at any moment. This would have disastrous consequences for both Ukraine and Russia.

“There is still a window of opportunity for de-escalation and diplomacy, and the prime minister will continue to work tirelessly alongside our allies to get Russia to step back from the brink.”

US president Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated they will pursue diplomatic avenues to ease tensions with Russia during an hour-long phone call today.

“President Biden made clear that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, together with its allies and partners, to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the White House said on Sunday.

Canada’s defence ministry has taken the decision to withdraw its Ukraine-based armed forces to an unidentified destination in Europe.

Canadians living in Ukraine account for the third-largest population in the country after Ukrainians and Russians.

Since 2015, Canada has kept a 200-strong training mission in western Ukraine.

The defence ministry said the military personnel have been relocated due to the “complex operational environment linked to Russia’s unwarranted aggression against Ukraine.”

Volodymyr Zelensky invited US president Joe Biden to travel to Ukraine soon during their phone call today, the presidential office said.

It quoted Zelensky as saying: “I’m convinced that your arrival in Kyiv in the coming days, which are crucial for stabilising the situation, will be a powerful signal and contribute to de-escalation.”

CNN later cited a Ukrainian official who said Biden did not offer a positive response to the proposal.

The White House declined to comment on the matter, Reuters reports.

Russia is disproportionately important as the world’s largest exporter of gas and the third largest producer of oil and oil products, writes Hamish McRae.

Ukraine’s government has announced a fund for flights in a bid to guarantee the continuation of routes through its airspace.

Prime minister Denys Shmygal said 16.6 billion hryvnia (£436 million) would be made available to “ensure airline safety” in the country.

Shmygal said today on social media that the funds “were allocated to ensure flight safety in Ukraine for insurance and leasing companies.”

He said: “This decision will stabilise the situation on the market of passenger air transportation and will guarantee the return to Ukraine of our citizens who are currently abroad.”

UK citizens with spouses living in Ukraine have said they feel “worried” and “frustrated” at the prospect of being unable to visit amid fears of an imminent Russian invasion

Gary Smith, 53, from Newcastle met his wife Helen, 55, in 2012 and has regularly flown to Ukraine to visit her.

It comes as thousands of Brits have been urged to leave the country after the foreign office updated its advice on Friday evening saying to “leave now while commercial means are still available.”

Those with loved ones in Ukraine now face an agonising wait before they can be reunited.

Mr Smith, who works in payment solutions, told the PA news agency: “I’m more worried than her, I said to her: ‘I’m worried for your safety.’

“I’m here and she’s there, and I can’t do anything about it.

“That’s the frustrating part – the ball is in Putin’s court.”

US security officials have today refused to confirm reports that the country’s intelligence indicated Russia is planning to invade Ukraine on Wednesday.

But White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan did say they would try to prevent any “surprise attack” by sharing what they knew of Moscow’s plans.

“We cannot perfectly predict the day, but we have now been saying for some time that we are in the window, and an invasion could begin — a major military action could begin — by Russia in Ukraine any day now. That includes this coming week before the end of the Olympics,” he told CNN’s programme State of the Union.

In a separate interview with CBS, Sullivan said: “We will defend every inch of NATO territory, every inch of Article Five territory and Russia we think fully understands that message.”