US-EU summit to discuss Ukraine developments as the drums of war blew around Kiev

 The White House announced in a statement that US President Joe Biden will hold a video conference with European leaders late Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

"The President will establish two lines of communication with European leaders as part of our close consultations and coordination with allies and transatlantic partners in response to Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's borders," the statement said.

 Biden returned to the White House earlier today as tensions escalated between Russia and the West over fears that Moscow was planning to invade Ukraine, with NATO announcing its intention to deploy more ground, air and naval forces in Eastern Europe.

 Britain said it would withdraw some diplomats from Kiev, and Ireland denounced the upcoming Russian war games off its coast as unwelcome.

 The Western alliance statement summarized the moves already announced by member states, but restating them under the NATO banner appears to be intended to show its resolve.  This was just an announcement in a series of statements that indicated that the West is intensifying its tone in the information war that accompanied the Ukrainian crisis

In Washington, Pentagon leaders proposed a range of options to Biden to bolster the US military presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states as a sign of American commitment, according to the Associated Press.

 Russia has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, demanded that NATO pledge it would never allow Ukraine to join and scale back other measures, such as the stationing of coalition forces in the former Soviet bloc.

 Russia denies it is planning an invasion, and says Western accusations are just a cover for planned NATO provocations