The United States has sent a request for a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on January 31, the US mission to the United Nations has said. "We now need the full attention of the Council and we expect a direct and productive discussion on Monday," the statement said.

In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's readiness to respond decisively if Russia invades Ukraine, the White House said today. Biden also told Zelensky that the United States was considering additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy due to pressure due to the accumulation of Russian troops, the statement added.

Earlier, the Ukrainian president said that in a telephone conversation with US President Biden, he discussed the de-escalation of the situation and the possibility of financial assistance to Ukraine.

The process of opening the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could be suspended in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last night.

"I want to be very clear: nothing is impossible, all options are open," von der Layen told CNN, answering a question about a possible halt to the process of opening a pipeline to transport gas from Russia to Germany. At the same time, the diplomatic struggle to alleviate the crisis created by Russia by deploying about 100.000 troops along the border with Ukraine continues.

"The commission is responsible for drafting, shaping and tightening sanctions (against Russia) - financially, economically and technologically," von der Layen said. The European Union is Russia's largest trading partner with about 40 percent of trade, and is also the largest foreign investor with 75 percent of direct investment in Russia, she said.

"These figures show that we have strong trump cards and that it can be painful for Russia," von der Layen said of possible moves in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine. The EC president did not want to give details about the package of sanctions that the European Union could impose on Russia.

China should use its "influence" on Russia to deter it from attacking Ukraine, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said last night, reiterating that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would not be operational if Russia invaded Ukraine.