NATO chief: No plans to send troops to Ukraine

Whereas the alliance is not planning to send troops to aid Ukraine against the Russian invasion, said NATO’s chief, he added that 100 fight planes are on the highest standby to protect alliance nations. Belarus ruler asks Putin to bolster his country’s western flank. Slovakia is sending 1,500 troops to its Ukraine border to aid refugees in flight from the conflict. The roads out of Kyiv are gridlocked by a mass exodus from the capital.

Putin warned that Moscow’s response will be “instant” if anyone tries to take on Russia.

The punishing Western sanctions expected in the wake of the Russian invasion may include severing Russian from the Swift system and cancelling all visas to Russian nationals.