Ukraine has been in danger for almost two months, with Russian troops massed on its border. Russia insists the troops are there only to protect the country from NATO's expanded presence in the region, but Western intelligence officials argue Moscow's military build-up could signal the start of a ground invasion.
Moscow has been unhappy since a protest movement toppled a pro-Russian government in 2014. Although Russia insists it has no military plans, it also says de-escalation talks will have to include NATO, promising that it will not allow Ukraine to join and will keep forces out of Eastern Europe.
Al Jazeera takes a look at how world powers have responded to the rapidly evolving crisis:
United States
President Joe Biden has said he would consider imposing economic sanctions targeting Vladimir Putin personally if the Russian president orders a new attack on Ukraine.
Despite the warning of sanctions, the US leader said he has "no intention" of sending troops to Ukraine. There is also the issue of energy supply, as Russia holds the world's largest reserves of natural gas. Senior Biden administration officials have said the US was in talks with major energy producing countries and companies around the world about a possible diversion of supplies to Europe if Russia invades Ukraine.
European Union
European Council President Charles Michel expressed solidarity with Ukraine on Wednesday, saying: "The threat against Ukraine is a threat against Europe."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has denounced the Russian military build-up near its border with Ukraine. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that the United Kingdom would not hesitate to impose sanctions on Russia if it chooses to invade Ukraine.
"We in the UK will not hesitate to strengthen our national sanctions against Russia in response to anything President Putin might do and the House of Commons will soon hear more about this," Johnson told Parliament.
Johnson said Britain would try to contribute to any new NATO deployment to defend its allies in Europe if Russia invades Ukraine.
If Putin's goal was to keep NATO forces away from Russia's borders, then "the invasion of Ukraine could hardly be more counterproductive," he said.
Franca
French President Emmanuel Macron has said Russia would pay a heavy price if it decided to attack Ukraine, even as he welcomed dialogue with Moscow.
He has also expressed his country's willingness to deploy troops to Romania to serve under NATO command, a move welcomed by Bucharest.
Germany
Germany has expressed its support for Ukraine throughout the crisis, but unlike other NATO members, it has announced that it will not provide arms to Kiev.
In February, "a complete field hospital will be delivered, including the necessary training, all co-financed by Germany to the tune of 5.3 million euros [$6 million]," German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht told reporters recently.
"Handing over the weapons would not be helpful at this time - that is the consensus in the federal government," she said.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schoenbach, the head of the German navy, resigned earlier in January after coming under fire at home and abroad for saying Ukraine would never take back the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
The Nord Stream 2 project, a Russian-owned pipeline stretching from Siberia to Germany, has complicated Berlin's position.
Finland
Finland, which is not a member of NATO and has a long border and a difficult history with Russia, has increased its military readiness in the face of Russia's military buildup. Colonel Petteri Kajanmaa, head of the war department at the Finnish National Defense University, speaking on behalf of the armed forces, said the instability in the Baltic Sea region stems from Russia's unpredictability.
"They have made their intentions clear, but we don't know what actions they are ready to take," he said recently.
Belarus
Belarus, a close ally of Putin, shares a border with Russia and Ukraine.
President Alexander Lukashenko is strengthening his military forces on the border with Ukraine and will soon hold joint exercises with Russia.
"I was forced to do it because the situation on the border with Ukraine is no better than on the border with Poland," he said, referring to the recent migrant crisis.
Lukashenko said that the joint maneuvers with Russia will be carried out on the western border of Belarus and in the south of the country, where it borders Ukraine.
Washington has warned Minsk that its government will face retaliation if it helps Russia invade Ukraine.
Italy
Italy's Defense Minister has said that his country will respect its NATO commitments in the Ukraine crisis, while underlining the need for a peaceful solution.
Italy's defense ministry said on Wednesday it was committed to maintaining dialogue with Moscow, insisting on talks to seek a peaceful solution.
At the same time, President Putin held a video call with Italian business leaders, focusing on strengthening economic ties.
Croatia
Croatia has sent mixed signals.
President Zoran Milanovic said on Tuesday that Croatia will withdraw from Ukraine if "one of the most corrupt countries in the world" comes into conflict with Russia.
"All this is happening in Russia's anteroom," the president said, adding that an agreement "that takes into account Russia's security needs" must be reached.
The blast prompted Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to issue a rebuttal later Tuesday, according to the Hina news agency.
"I want to apologize to Ukraine on behalf of the Croatian government," he said, noting that Ukraine, in 1991, was one of the first countries to recognize Croatian citizenship after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Japan
Japan has announced that it will work closely with the US in the event that Russia invades Ukraine.
The discussion with the US over what would happen in the event of an invasion during a teleconference summit last week, a Japanese government spokesman said.
Romania
President Klaus Iohannis said Romania is in talks with the US and France on how to increase their troop numbers in his country, which said it was ready to host an increased NATO military presence.
"I have repeatedly said that we are ready to welcome an increased allied presence on our territory," Iohannis said.
"The current crisis proves once again that ... the consolidation of the allied presence on the eastern flank, including our country, is very important," he said.
(BalkanWeb)
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