United Nations: The US and Russian envoys confronted at the UN Security Council on Monday, the US termed the deployment of the Russian peacekeeping operation in eastern Ukraine as part of its pretext for war. 
Russia has given recognition to two rebel territories of eastern Ukraine and deployed peacekeeping forces. Russia has declared the independent status to two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine. Called it as Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. Following the request of Ukraine to convene UN Security Council meeting.  US, Britain and France responded to Ukraine request and called the meeting. 
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the mobilization was the biggest Europe had seen in decades. Her Russian counterpart accused the US of fomenting hysteria and unacceptable interference in Russia's affairs. The US and UK have promised further sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said legislation was being prepared which would target a wider range of individuals and businesses close to the Kremlin than is currently possible.
A US official said Washington's sanctions meant individuals close to the Kremlin would be cut off from the international financial system.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially recognized the two breakaway regions - the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic - as independent, defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and wreck peace negotiations, says US secretary to UN. 
"President Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds. We have been clear that we do not believe he will stop at that," said Thomas-Greenfield, referring to the agreements of 2014 and 2015 that aimed to end the conflict between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, NDTV reports. 
Diplomatic efforts continue, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken due to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later on Tuesday.

The US said it had received a written response from Russia to a US proposal aimed at de-escalating the crisis in Ukraine. But hours later Russia's deputy foreign minister said that was not true and a source told Ria news agency it was still preparing a response, says BBC reports. 
A state department spokesperson said the US remained fully committed to dialogue and would continue to consult closely with its allies and partners, including Ukraine.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes Russia has violated the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine with its decision to recognize eastern Ukraine as independent entities, a U.N. spokesman said.
UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council the United Nations regretted Russia's order to deploy troops into eastern Ukraine on a reported "peacekeeping mission."
Meanwhile, a number of European leaders are travelling to Ukraine on Tuesday for talks. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is flying to Kyiv after promising to work with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find a diplomatic solution to arguments with Moscow and "avoid further bloodshed".

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are also heading to the Ukrainian capital, BBC reported. 
Russia has placed an estimated 130,000 troops, tanks, artillery, and missiles near Ukraine's frontiers.
An urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council is set to convene after Russia recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and hours later said it would deploy troops in two regions to maintain peace.