Biden and Putin 'agree in principle to Ukraine summit'

Potential breakthrough announced by French president's office early on Monday

Russian President Vladimir Putin signs documents recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. AFP

A Ukrainian soldier walks past fragments of a mortar shell amid fighting near the front line in Travneve, Donetsk region. Reuters

People wave Russian flags while celebrating Moscow's recognition of the self-proclaimed republic's independence, in Donetsk. AP

Protesters gather at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in Kiev, calling on the EU to impose additional sanctions against Russia. Getty Images

Members of the security forces walk in an underpass at a railway station in Kiev. Getty Images

A Ukrainian soldier on the front line near the village of Travneve, in Donetsk. Reuters

Alisa, 38, a media relations specialist, takes part in a combat skills training for civilians near Kiev. Reuters

Alisa poses with a gun at her home near Kiev. Reuters

A young girl takes part in a rally in defence of 'Ukraine, Europe and democratic values', organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal, outside the Russian Consulate in Porto, Portugal. EPA

A Ukrainian soldier takes time out to play with dogs on the front line near the city of Novoluhanske, in Donetsk. Reuters

People gather under the Ukrainian flag for a Day of Solidarity with Ukraine at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. AFP

Residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic cross from Ukraine into Russia, after it was announced that women and children would be led to the Rostov region due to rising tension in the area. EPA

After the evacuation of separatist-controlled regions of eastern Ukraine, people complete documents in a temporary accommodation centre in Rostov, Russia. Reuters

War veterans and volunteers train civilians in handling weapons on one of Kiev's city beaches. AFP

Russian and Belarusian helicopters taking part in a joint military exercise of the allied countries’ armed forces. EPA

Ukrainian National Guard soldiers at a mobile checkpoint together with the Ukrainian Security Service agents and police officers during a joint operation in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP

US President Joe Biden delivers a national update on the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP

A Polish soldier uses his phone, as US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak visit the Air Base in Powidz, Poland. Reuters

Mr Austin, left, addresses US troops stationed at the Powidz Air Base in Poland. AP Photo

A woman walks to board a bus, arranged to evacuate local residents, in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. Reuters

A satellite image shows an overview of helicopter deployments near Lake Donuzlav in Crimea, Ukraine. Reuters

A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman looks through a spyglass on the front line with Russia-backed separatists not far from Novolugansk in the Donetsk region. AFP

A serviceman keeps position on the front line. AFP

A Ukrainian frontier guard patrols along the border with Russia, some 40km from the city of Kharkiv. AFP

US President Joe Biden speaks to the media about Russia's buildup on the Ukrainian border as he leaves the White House in Washington. EPA

A Ukrainian frontier guard stands at a check point. AFP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio enter a hall during a meeting in Moscow. Reuters

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the United Nations Security Council. AP Photo

An elderly lady walks by as members of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination survey damage to a house from artillery shell that landed in Vrubivka, eastern Ukraine. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine at the European Council building in Brussels. AP Photo

A local resident boards a train at a suburban area of Kiev. Reuters

A woman stands among debris after the reported shelling of a nursery in the settlement of Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine. AFP

A protester shouts slogans during a demonstration outside the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev against high government taxes. AFP

A member of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army rests ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg in the US. AP Photo

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army clean weaponry ahead of deployment to Poland. AP Photo

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US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron said, provided Russia does not invade its neighbour.

The Elysee Palace said early on Monday that Mr Macron had pitched a summit to both leaders about "security and strategic stability in Europe".

"Presidents Biden and Putin have both accepted the principle of such a summit," the Palace said.

But it said such a meeting would be impossible if Russia invaded Ukraine as western nations fear it plans to.

"The substance will have to be prepared by US Secretary of State Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov during their meeting on Thursday 24 February," the Elysee palace said

The White House confirmed that Mr Biden has accepted the meeting in principle if Russia doesn’t invade.

“We are always ready for diplomacy,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. “We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war. And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.”

The announcement, released after phone calls between Mr Macron and leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, comes after a week of heightened tension spurred by Russia's military build-up on the Ukrainian border.

Nerves were further frayed after the Belarusian Defence Ministry announced that Russia would extend military drills in Belarus that were due to end on Sunday.

Satellite images appeared to show new Russian armour and troops close to Ukraine.

The White House said Mr Biden was cancelling a trip to Delaware and remaining in Washington after a two-hour meeting of his National Security Council.

US satellite imagery company Maxar reported new Russian military units in forests, farms and industrial areas as little as 15 kilometres from the border with Ukraine, something it said represented a change from recent weeks.

"Until recently, most of the deployments had been seen primarily positioned at or near existing military garrisons and training areas," the company said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN: "Everything we are seeing suggests that this is dead serious."

Mr Blinken said the West was equally prepared if Moscow invaded.

"Until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward," he said.