BRITAIN and the US have begun withdrawing some staff and their families from Ukraine over fears Russia will invade any day.
Vladimir Putin has around 100,000 troops and heavy armour stationed near the border after talks to avert a bloody conflict failed to reach a breakthrough.
The UK Foreign Office said today it was pulling some diplomats from its embassy in Kiev “in response to growing threat from Russia”.
Around half of staff are expected to leave with their families, reports the BBC.
The Foreign Office added: “The British Embassy remains open and will continue to carry out essential work.”
It comes after the US ordered diplomats’ families to leave Ukraine, saying an invasion could come “at any time”.
“There are reports Russia is planning significant military action against Ukraine,” an advisory from the State Department said.
Non-essential US embassy staff have also been told they can leave, and other US citizens have been urged to do the same.
The State Department also warned people not to travel to Ukraine or Russia due to the “potential for harassment against US citizens”.
It is thought to be a precaution rather than a response to any developments in the past 24 hours.
The US stressed it is not an evacuation.
But a State Department official said if there was an invasion it “will not be in a position to evacuate US citizens”, reports AFP
The European Union said it has no plans to follow suit. EU Security Policy chief Josep Borrell said he will not “dramatise” the tensions.
Meanwhile Joe Biden was reported to be considering sending 50,000 US troops to eastern Europe to counter any Russian offensive.
Extra ships and planes could also be sent in a strong warning to Putin to back down, it is claimed.
Initially the plans would see up to 5,000 personnel deployed in Nato allies in the Baltic – boosted to ten times that number if the situation deteriorates.
Biden does not want US boots on the ground in Ukraine itself, fearing a repeat of his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, reports the New York Times.
Denmark and Spain are also sending planes and ships to eastern Europe and France has put troops on standby as Nato bolsters its “deterrence”.
Russia hit back today warning it would “respond appropriately” to any US deployment on its doorstep.
The Kremlin has denied any plans for military action in Ukraine despite satellite photos of troops and tanks inside Belarus, within striking distance of Kiev.
They are in addition to forces estimated to total 100,000 camped to Ukraine’s east and south.
And the families of soldiers moved thousands of miles from Russia’s far east have been told they will be away for nine months.
It has been seen as a sign of plans for a protracted war.
Analysts say Putin hopes a lightning victory would give boost his popularity but it could backfire if an incursion leads to heavy casualties and a Vietnam-style quagmire.
Ukrainian volunteers have been training for guerrilla attacks to resist an invading army, and are ready to “tear Russians apart with their bare hands”.
Boris Johnson last week warned of “disaster for the world” if Putin enters its neighbour.
Today the leader of Russia-backed rebels waging war in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region claimed Kiev is planning a major “offensive” with tanks and infantry.
But it comes after US officials said Putin’s special forces could launch “false flag” attacks as a pretext for an invasion which could plunge Europe into war.
