Current affairs, Russia-Ukraine deadlock: Kyiv declares state of emergency, EU to hold emergency meeting

Ukraine declared a state of emergency and asked its citizens in Russia to flee. Russia on the other hand has ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Kyiv as large numbers of troops of both countries remain stationed at the line of contact in eastern Ukraine.

The European Union has called an emergency summit to decide the next course of actions against Russia after it recognised two breakaway regions in Ukraine as independent entities.

Meanwhile, Russia has denied planning an invasion of Ukraine and has described the West's warnings as anti-Russian hysteria.

On Wednesday, Ukraine declared a 30-day state of emergency and told its citizens in Russia to flee. The emergency could be extended for 30 more days if the standoff continues along Ukraine's eastern border.

With the declaration of a state of emergency, the Ukrainian states now has the powers to put restrictions on transport, extra protection for critical infrastructure and a ban on strikes. Regional authorities can make decisions on whether to introduce curfews and other measures.

Russia started evacuating personnel from all of its diplomatic facilities in Ukraine, including an embassy in Kyiv and consulates in Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv, according to Russia's state Tass news agency.

The European Union leaders will hold an emergency summit on Thursday to discuss the situation in Ukraine. "It is important that we continue to be united and determined and jointly define our collective approach and actions," Reuters quoted EU Council chief Charles Michel as saying.

Michel said the agenda of the EU meeting would include discussing "how we protect the rules-based international order; how we deal with Russia notably holding Russia accountable for its actions; how we will further support Ukraine and its people."