Everything you need to know about the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a nutshell

Ankara has long sought to act as a mediator in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia has announced that its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces – further raising the stakes amid Western fears that a fully fledged invasion of Ukraine is imminent.

Russia has started evacuating its embassy in Kyiv and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia as the region braced for further confrontation after Vladimir Putin received authorisation to use military force outside his country and the West responded with sanctions.

As international alarm grows, analysts say Moscow’s intention is to cause ‘permanent internal chaos’ in Ukraine.

The move is being seen as a direct challenge to the West and has fueled fears that Russia could imminently invade Ukraine.More than 1,50,000 Russian troops remain massed near Ukraine’s borders