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Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, upping the ante amid fears of a war.

Putin announced his decision in a televised address and in phone calls to the leaders of Germany and France, who voiced disappointment, the Kremlin said.

The move could torpedo a last-minute bid for a summit with US President Joe Biden to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine and the rouble extended its losses as Putin spoke on the issue, falling 3.3 per cent on the day to 79.83 per US dollar.

Putin held a long address, delving into history as far back as the Ottoman empire and as recent as the tensions over NATO's eastward expansion - a key irritant for Russia in the present crisis.

He described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's past without a tradition of genuine statehood of its own.

He said the east of the country covered ancient Russian lands.

"If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia," he said.

Putin has for years worked to restore Russia's influence over countries that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with Ukraine holding an important place in his ambitions.

Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour but it has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO.

Recognition of the rebel-held areas could pave the way for Moscow to send military forces into the two separatist regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - openly and argue that it is intervening as an ally to protect them against Ukraine.

A Russian parliament member and former Donetsk political leader, Alexander Borodai, has said that the separatists would then look to Russia to help them wrest control of the parts of the two regions that are still under the sway of Ukrainian forces.

The European Union warned of sanctions from the 27-member bloc should Moscow annex or recognise the breakaway regions in the east of Ukraine and largely controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

"If there is annexation, there will be sanctions, and if there is recognition, I will put the sanctions on the table and the ministers will decide," the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers.

Earlier this week, US and European officials said the US and allies were not totally in agreement about how to respond in case of stepped-up support for pro-Russian separatists.

It will also narrow the diplomatic options to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, touted as the framework for future negotiations on the wider crisis.

Separately, Moscow said Ukrainian military saboteurs had tried to enter Russian territory in armed vehicles leading to five deaths, an accusation dismissed as "fake news" by officials in Kyiv.

The developments fit a pattern repeatedly predicted by US and allied governments, who accuse Russia of preparing to fabricate a pretext to invade Ukraine by blaming Kyiv for attacks and relying on pleas for help from separatist proxies.

The US says Russia has now massed a force numbering 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Hours earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron gave hope of a diplomatic solution, saying Putin and his US counterpart Joe Biden had agreed in principle to meet.

Putin said Macron had told him the US had changed its stance on Russia's security demands, without specifying how.

The White House said Biden had accepted the meeting "in principle" but only "if an invasion hasn't happened".

The US, which heads the NATO alliance, has flatly rejected the idea of excluding Ukraine for good or reversing NATO's eastward enlargement of the last three decades but has offered talks on weapons deployments and other security issues.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a call or meeting between Putin and Biden could be set up at any time but there were no concrete plans yet for a summit.

Macron's office and the White House said details would be worked out by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later this week.

Lavrov confirmed that he planned to meet Blinken in Geneva on Thursday, and said there had been some progress in talks on European security.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday he had asked member states of the United Nations Security Council to hold urgent discussions on practical steps to guarantee his country's security and on de-escalating the tensions with Russia.

© RAW 2022

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The Kremlin says there are no concrete plans for a summit over Ukraine between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Joe Biden, after the French president said the two leaders had agreed to a meeting in principle.

A summit might offer a possible path out of Europe's biggest military crisis in decades.

However, both Washington and Moscow played down hopes of a breakthrough, and satellite imagery appeared to show Russian deployments closer to Ukraine's border than before.

Moscow denies planning any attack but has demanded security guarantees including a promise that Ukraine would never join NATO.

Nerves were further frayed when the Belarusian defence ministry announced on Sunday that Russia would extend military drills in Belarus that had been due to end.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a phone call or meeting between Putin and Biden could be set up at any time, but there were no concrete plans yet for a summit.

Tensions were growing, but diplomatic contacts were active and a meeting of foreign ministers was possible this week.

He also said Putin would imminently address an extraordinary session of Russia's Security Council.

The White House said in a statement that Biden had accepted the meeting "in principle" but only "if an invasion hasn't happened".

"We are always ready for diplomacy," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. "We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences, should Russia instead choose war."

Western countries are preparing sanctions they say would be far-reaching against Russian companies and individuals in the event that Russia invades, including steps to bar US financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks, people familiar with the matter said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he still saw room for diplomacy, but would convene an extraordinary EU meeting to agree sanctions "when the moment comes".

French President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement that he had pitched a summit on "security and strategic stability in Europe" to both leaders.

Macron's office and the White House said the substance of the plan would be worked out by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting planned for February 24.

US-based satellite imagery company Maxar on Sunday reported multiple new deployments of Russian military units in forests, farms, and industrial areas as little as 15km from the border with Ukraine.

Blinken said the extension of the exercises in Belarus made him more worried that Russia was on the brink of an attack.

In a letter to UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet seen by Reuters, the United States said an invasion "could create a human rights catastrophe" and might include rounding up and killing opponents.

Washington has also repeatedly raised concerns that Russia could manufacture a pretext for an invasion with a so-called false flag attack designed to look as if it had been carried out by Ukraine. Russia accuses the West of hysteria.

Sporadic shelling across the line dividing Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in the east has intensified since Thursday, with both sides trading blame.

The separatists have been busing out civilians, accusing Kyiv of planning an attack. Ukraine and the West view the rebels as Russian proxies, escalating to provide Moscow with a justification to invade.

Sounds of fighting were heard again on Monday, including a blast in the centre of the separatist-held city of Donetsk. The cause could not be determined.

Russia's FSB intelligence service said a shell fired from Ukrainian territory had hit a Russian border guard post in the city of Rostov, but that no one had been hurt.

The rebels said two civilians were killed in shelling by Kyiv government forces, Russia's RIA news agency said. Russian media reported 61,000 evacuees from east Ukraine had crossed into Russia.

Washington says accusations that Kyiv would intentionally escalate the conflict are absurd at a time when Russia has massed troops on the border.

© RAW 2022

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Australian health authorities are warning parents to stop feeding their babies three brands of formula as they may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.

Both Victorian and New South Wales health authorities issued alerts on Sunday night, after EleCare, Similac and Alimentum instant formulas were recalled.

Manufacturer Abbott is conducting a precautionary recall of some of the formulas, which are made in the United States.

The formulas could be contaminated with Salmonella, which may lead to fevers, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea in babies.

There are fears the formulas may also contain Cronobacter, which can be fatal in babies and presents as a fever, poor feeding, crying or very low energy.

The specialist formulas are available in Australia through a prescription at pharmacies, hospitals and via direct mail order.

VicHealth warned parents to immediately seek medical attention if any symptoms develop.

"Parents and caregivers should cease feeding with the affected products as soon as an alternative has been sourced," VicHealth said in an alert.

"Infants or children may present to health services and emergency departments unwell if they have consumed affected formula."

NSW Health Chief Paediatrician Matthew O'Meara said there had not yet been any infections linked to the formulas so far.

Two types of EleCare formula are affected, its unflavoured 400g can, lot number 26811Z200, and EleCare LCP 400g can, lot number 27871Z202.

An Abbott spokeswoman said the company did not sell Similac and Alimentum formulas through pharmacies in Australia, however individuals may have purchased the products online and imported them.

She encouraged parents who used EleCare to contact the company on 1800 225 311 to check if their formula is impacted.

"No other nutrition products distributed by Abbott in Australia are affected by this recall, and you can continue to use those," the spokeswoman said.

© AAP 2022

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All-Australian star Touk Miller has been elevated to co-captaincy duties at Gold Coast, replacing fellow midfielder David Swallow.

Miller has been a shining light during a tough period for the Suns and will become the official face of the AFL club.

After being in Gold Coast's leadership group for five years, Miller will share the captaincy duties with ruckman Jarrod Witts.

"I have a lot of love for this club and want to serve it as best I can," Miller said.

"I'm thrilled that the playing group and the club have put the trust in me to lead us alongside Jarrod and I'm really looking forward to what's ahead.

"We've got some young leaders that are starting to emerge in both their football and off the field, which will put us in good stead for an exciting future."

Witts will return from an ACL injury that ruled him out for most of the 2021 season to boost the Suns' midfield group.

Defender Sam Collins will continue as vice-captain, while Swallow will remain in the leadership group with Sean Lemmens, Nick Holman and Noah Anderson.

"(Swallow) stepped up to lead this club during a tough period and now makes the decision to put the club first and pass the baton over to Touk, to lead the club into an exciting new phase in its journey," Suns football performance boss Wayne Campbell said.

"It's clear to see the leadership qualities that both Jarrod and Touk have, and we're excited by the opportunity that presents them to lead our club into the next phase of our development."

This season shapes as a defining one for the Suns, who are yet to qualify for finals since entering the AFL in 2011.

After finishing 16th last season, Gold Coast will need to improve significantly for Stuart Dew to earn a contract extension beyond this year.

The Suns will have to do it without young star forward Ben King, who injured his knee at training earlier this month and will miss the entire season.

© AAP 2022