The United States President, Joe Biden says Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will move in on Ukraine but does not want full-blown war.
Biden told a news conference that Putin would pay a serious and dear price for invading, but indicated a minor incursion might be treated differently.
The White House later stressed any Russian military move would be met with swift and severe response from the West.
Meanwhile, President Putin has made a series of demands to the West, insisting Ukraine will never be allowed to join North Atlantic Treaty Organization and that the defensive alliance abandoned military activity in Eastern Europe.
However, Russia has some one hundred thousand troops near the border but denies planning an invasion.
