NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Tensions are escalating in Ukraine after weeks of Russian troop build-up and military exercises on the Ukrainian border. The U.S. has been warning of an imminent invasion for weeks. President Joe Biden restated those concerns Friday from White House, saying, “We have reason to believe the Russian forces are planning to, intend to, attack Ukraine in the coming week, in the coming days." Biden claims Putin will target the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, though most of the build-up has been focused on the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine.
5:15 P.M.: Speaking at a security conference in Germany, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia plans to encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, rather than carry out more limited operations in Eastern Ukraine.
"People need to understand the sheer cost in human life that could entail," he said.
He threatened severe sanctions if Russia invades.
2:34 P.M.: Foreign ministers from every G7 nation — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America — called on Russia to move troops away from the border and de-escalate the situation in Ukraine.
"We call on Russia to choose the path of diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, to substantively withdraw military forces from the proximity of Ukraine’s borders and to fully abide by international commitments including on risk reduction and transparency of military activities," said the nations in a joint press release. "As a first step, we expect Russia to implement the announced reduction of its military activities along Ukraine’s borders."
1:10 P.M.: New photos released of shells fired across the Donbas border into Russia's Rostov-on-Don region. Shelling by Russian back separatists into Ukraine yesterday escalated tensions.
12:51 P.M.: Ukrainian pro-Russian separatist leader Denis Pushilin starts mass mobilization of troops in Donetsk region of Ukraine. Several conflicting reports circulated Friday about possible explosions in the region. The rebels have been evacuating civilians into Russia in the past few days.
12:42 P.M.: Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky calls on potential sanctions on Russia for an invasion to be made explicit and public
“The question of just making it public ... just the list of sanctions, for them, for us, to know what will happen if they start the war," Zelensky told CNN.