Russia-Ukraine updates: US urges Ukrainian president to head to Lviv for his safety

Ukraine wants diplomacy but will defend itself, Zelenskyy said in an address.
The United States continues to warn that Russia could invade Ukraine "any day" amid escalating tensions in the region, with President Joe Biden telling reporters Friday he's "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade.

More diplomacy seemed possible, though, with Biden agreeing "in principle" Sunday to meet with Putin, as long as Russia didn't invade, but the Kremlin on Monday said talk of a summit was "premature."

In an address to the Russian public on Monday, Putin announced that he's recognizing two Russian-controlled separatist regions in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region as independent: the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Biden swiftly responded to Putin with sanctions. The White House said Biden will issue an executive order banning "new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine." The order "will also provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, adding that the U.S. "will also soon announce additional measures related to today’s blatant violation of Russia’s international commitments."

While the U.S. says some 190,000 Russian troops and separatist forces are estimated to be massed near Ukraine's borders, Russia has denied any plans to invade and reiterated its demands that the U.S. and NATO bar Ukraine from joining the military alliance.