Convoys of armoured automobiles have been seen rolling throughout the separatist-controlled territories. It wasn't instantly clear in the event that they have been Russian.
Russian officers have not but acknowledged any troop deployments to the insurgent east, however Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist native council in Donetsk, informed reporters the Russian troops already had moved in, taking on positions within the area's north and west.
The US and its allies are transferring to slap financial sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin recognised two separatist areas of japanese Ukraine and despatched in troops, claiming they have been there for peacekeeping service.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, mentioned an "assault on Ukraine was an assault on the sovereignty of each UN member state and the UN constitution".
"Immediately, President Putin made a collection of outrageous false claims about Ukraine, geared toward making a pretext for battle," Ms Thomas-Greenfield mentioned.
"He claimed that Ukraine is in search of nuclear weapons from the West. This isn't true."
She mentioned it was "nonsense" that Russian troops within the separatist japanese areas of Ukraine have been peacekeepers.
"If Russia invades Ukraine even additional, we'll see a devastating lack of life and unimaginable struggling," Ms Thomas-Greenfield mentioned.
"In essence, Putin needs the world to journey again in time to ... when empires dominated the world. However the remainder of the world has moved ahead.
"It isn't 1919, it's 2022."
Different members of the UN safety council adopted the tone of message popping out of Washington, that Russia ought to again down instantly and avert bloodshed and instability in Europe.
Nevertheless, it's nearly sure the Safety Council is not going to take any motion or problem any assertion as a result of Russia has veto energy.
Russian diplomat Vasily Nebenzya, who's the present president of the UN Safety Council, denied Russia was an aggressor and mentioned a diplomatic answer was nonetheless attainable.
He additionally hit out on the US for its "extraordinarily destructive position" in "egging on Ukraine" to float to the West.
The West had additionally been "unashamedly cramming weapons" into the Ukraine over the previous weeks, he claimed, in addition to sending in army advisors and instructors to mobilise help.
A protracted-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine gave the impression to be imminent at the moment, if not already underway, with Mr Putin ordering forces into separatist areas of japanese Ukraine.
A vaguely worded decree signed by Mr Putin didn't say if troops have been on the transfer and it solid the order as an effort to "keep peace."
Nevertheless it appeared to sprint the slim remaining hopes of averting a serious battle in Europe that would trigger huge casualties, vitality shortages on the continent and financial chaos across the globe.
Mr Putin justified his resolution in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the present disaster and calling the US-led alliance an existential risk to Russia.
Sweeping by greater than a century of historical past, he painted at the moment's Ukraine as a contemporary assemble that's inextricably linked to Russia.
He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was utilized by the West to comprise Russia.
Talking on the UN assembly, Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Yelchenko likened Russia to a "virus" and mentioned the members of the safety council have been "sick".
"That is a matter of truth," he mentioned.
"It has been hit by the virus unfold by the Kremlin."
He condemned Russia's sending of troops to Ukraine's east, and urged the UN to do the whole lot it will probably to cease a Russian invasion.
Mr Putin's directive to ship in troops got here hours after he recognised the separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European historical past.
The transfer paved the best way to offer them army help, antagonising Western leaders who regard such a transfer as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by the US and others to reply.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Mr Putin's resolution to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as unbiased "represents a whole rejection of Russia's commitments underneath the Minsk agreements".
The White Home issued an government order to ban US funding and commerce within the separatist areas, and extra measures — probably sanctions — are anticipated to be introduced within the coming hours.
Different Western allies additionally mentioned they have been planning to announce sanctions.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned Tuesday the UK will even introduce "speedy" financial sanctions in opposition to Russia, and warned Putin is bent on "a full-scale invasion of Ukraine ... that will be completely catastrophic."
Johnson mentioned Putin had "utterly torn up worldwide regulation" and British sanctions would goal not simply the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk however "Russian financial pursuits as arduous as we will."
EU overseas coverage chief, Josep Borrell, mentioned that "Russian troops have entered in Donbas," including that "I would not say that (it's) a completely fledged invasion, however Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil" and the EU would determine on sanctions in a while Tuesday.
Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday mentioned China would "proceed to remain in engagement with all events," persevering with to steer clear from committing to again Russia regardless of the shut ties between Moscow and Beijing.
Biden-Putin summit doubt
A summit between Mr Biden and Mr Putin is unlikely, a senior administration official mentioned, following intelligence and indications on the bottom that Russia is prone to take army motion.
On Sunday, White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned Biden agreed "in precept" to a gathering with Mr Putin so long as Russia doesn't additional invade Ukraine.
However the official mentioned intelligence experiences indicated additional Russian army motion would preclude any leader-to-leader summit.
With companies