Speaking with Macron, Putin blames escalation on 'provocations by Ukrainian security forces'; Zelensky calls for immediate ceasefire; Blinken warns Kyiv on 'brink of invasion'

France's Macron phones Putin in last-ditch effort to stave off open conflict; European Council chief warns West can't keep offering 'olive branch' to saber-rattling Moscow

British PM warns of potential 'sheer cost in human life'; Zelensky proposes meeting with Russia leader; Putin, Macron to speak; Germany, Austria tell citizens to leave Ukraine

Artillery fire spikes as fears mount Russia is paving the way for an invasion; 2 Ukrainian soldiers killed; pro-Russia separatists mobilize for war and evacuate civilians

US defense chief says Russian forces moving into positions 'to be able to conduct an attack'; Ukrainian soldier killed amid 'dramatic increase' in clashes with separatists

Separatists urge reservists to show up at enlistment offices; concern rising clashes will be used by Russia as pretext for invasion; Ukrainian soldier dies in Donetsk shelling

US says observed significant Russian troop movement; Ukraine's Zelensky to travel to Germany, Western leaders amid spiking tensions; Biden says unwise for him to leave country

US president warns of false flag operations to justify an attack, citing US intelligence; says diplomacy still 'a possibility'; car bombing and shelling reported near conflict line

Putin warns 'situation deteriorating' as US accuses Moscow of trying to provoke an incident to falsely justify invasion; US envoy says up to 190,000 Russian troops massed on border

The worries are likely farfetched, but experts say bad actors could potentially generate a genetic scandal, not a presidential clone