Russia says Ukraine has 'plunged deeper into chaos;' Western countries continue to relocate embassies as Russian lawmakers approve use of force abroad

Upper house of parliament gives President swift unanimous approval for move that could herald a larger assault on Ukraine as Putin urges recognition of Crimea as Russian

Putin's lesson justifying his decision to recognize breakaway regions gets some facts right, but ignores the lion's share of Eastern European history in service of his objectives

US shifts to calling push an 'invasion,' but EU says it's short of a full-fledged incursion; Russia denies sending in soldiers, though convoys of armored vehicles spotted

Since 2014 Moscow has thrown its weight behind an insurgency in the Donetsk and Luhansk border areas; a 2015 peace deal that grants them some self-rule has not been implemented

Scholz takes step to suspend Nord Stream 2 project with Russia; Duma legislates troop deployment; bloc policy head says Russia hasn't fully invaded but soldiers are on Ukraine soil

Tehran, itself under US sanctions, makes statement as Washington, Brussels set to announce economic measures against Russia

Washington said to have urged Ukraine's Zelensky to move to west of country for safety; US envoy to UN: Putin's 'outrageous, false claims' are creating pretext for war

White House says move aimed at Lugansk and Donetsk regions is separate from threatened penalties ready to be imposed against Russia should it attack Ukraine

Kyiv furiously denies incident, brands Moscow a 'fake-producing factory' as Putin proclaims that 'there are no prospects' to implement 2015 peace deal