Biden, Zelenskyy agree to pursue ‘diplomacy, deterrence’

US and Ukraine leaders agree in phone call on both the carrot and stick in response to Russian military buildup, White House says.

Russia could invade Ukraine at any time and might create a surprise pretext for an attack, the US national security adviser warned on Sunday, reaffirming a pledge to defend “every inch” of NATO territory.

Russia has more than 100,000 troops massed near Ukraine, which is not part of the Atlantic military alliance, and Washington – while keeping open the diplomatic channels that have so far failed to ease the crisis – has repeatedly said an invasion is imminent.

Moscow denies any such plans and has accused the West of “hysteria”.

Hello, and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the Ukraine-Russia crisis. I am Virginia Pietromarchi with the latest updates.

Airlines review services to Ukraine amid threat of war

Some airlines have canceled or diverted flights to Ukraine amid warnings from the West that an invasion by Russia is imminent as Kyiv says it will keep its airspace open.

Russia denies it intends to invade Ukraine despite massing tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border and denouncing the West of “peak hysteria”.

A call between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to result in a breakthrough on Saturday, with the US warning Russia of crippling sanctions for military aggression

Biden, Zelenskyy pursue ‘diplomacy and deterrence’ in Ukraine crisis

US President Joe Biden spoke at length with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Russia’s military buildup along Ukraine’s borders, with the pair agreeing on the need to pursue “diplomacy and deterrence,” the White House said.

“The two leaders agreed on the importance of continuing to pursue diplomacy and deterrence in response to Russia’s military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” according to a readout of the roughly 50-minute call.

With Western fears growing that Russia is about to invade the ex-Soviet state, the White House added that 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”.