Biden warns that Russian threat remains as Ukraine holds 'day of unity' 

In a White House televised address, the US President warned that a Russian invasion of the Ukraine “remains distinctly possible”

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases. Picture: Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Joe Biden has claimed that 150,000 Russian troops remain in a “threatening position” around Ukraine, despite Russian claims of a withdrawal, and warned that an invasion “remains distinctly possible”, as Ukraine began to mark what its president called a “day of unity”.

In a televised address from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, Biden combined a repeated offer of security talks with a warning of severe repercussions if Russia carries out an attack that US intelligence has reportedly assessed could take place as early as Wednesday.