First Thing: Biden says west is united on Ukraine

Good afternoon

Joe Biden has said there was “total” unity among western powers after crisis talks with European leaders on how to deter Russia from an attack against Ukraine, as 8,500 US troops are put on high alert.

“I had a very, very, very good meeting – total unanimity with all the European leaders,” the president told reporters shortly after a one hour and 20-minute video conference on Monday with allied leaders from Europe and Nato.

In London, Boris Johnson’s office also said “the leaders agreed on the importance of international unity in the face of growing Russian hostility”.

The UK prime minister had warned of “unprecedented sanctions” against Moscow should an invasion take place amid growing tensions over Ukraine.