NATO

"We are here first to reaffirm the European Union's full support of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Borrell told reporters during a media briefing. The EU has been providing political, financial and economic support for Kiev, Borrell said, noting that the bloc's Association Agreement with Ukraine is "the most comprehensive agreement it has with any other third country in the world", reports Xinhua news agency.

The Russian President has denied all allegations claiming that Russia plans to invade Ukraine. President Putin has instead demanded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to abandon all military activity in Eastern Europe and not admit Ukraine as a member, as per reports.

"We will do everything to make sure we are understood, considering the actions we are currently taking to ensure our defense capability, I hope that we will be taken seriously," Lavrov said during an interview for RT. Russia has recently sent a draft agreement to NATO and a draft treaty to the United States both on security guarantees in Europe for the Western countries to consider, Xinhua news agency reported.

"If our Western colleagues continue their clearly aggressive line, we will take adequate retaliatory military-technical measures to respond firmly to hostile actions," Putin said at an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board. Putin reiterated that Russia stands against armed conflict and bloodshed and wishes to resolve issues through diplomacy, but there must be clear legal guarantees.

Russia and NATO shall not strengthen their security individually, including in the framework of international organisations, military alliances or coalitions at the expense of the security of others, read the document published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Xinhua news agency reported.

"NATO countries are increasing the supply of weapons to Ukraine, training its military personnel, and are not doing this with the mythical aim of maintaining stability and security, but to simply add fuel to the fire," the Ministry's Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. During her weekly briefing, she expressed concern that these actions could drive Ukraine into a large-scale civil war.

The US President said the moral and legal obligation to defend NATO allies if they are under attack does not extend to Ukraine as it is not a member of the 30-member bloc. In addition to this, Biden said that he hoped to announce a meeting with Russia and other NATO countries by Friday.

The US Sixth Fleet tweeted on Friday that USS Porter began its northbound transit to the Black Sea to operate with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and partners in the region, Xinhua news agency reported. The fleet headquartered in Italy's Naples, and Naval Striking and Support Forces of NATO staff began operations in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea on Friday to demonstrate "NATO's commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in international waters."

"The aggressive position of NATO has never been a secret. This is a bloc that was created against our country. No peace-loving statements, no camouflage of this aggressive orientation can hide its true purpose," Peskov told a Russian TV program, Xinhua news agency reported. Commenting on Ukraine's attempt to join NATO, Peskov said it is impossible for Russia to prevent it.

"We have a Russian base in Kant city. We don't need an American military base in the country. One military base is enough for us," Zhaparov said at his annual press conference on Saturday, adding that the agreement with the United States on the latter's military base located outside Bishkek ended years ago, Xinhua news agency reported.