White House calls Russian troop deployments to eastern Ukraine an invasion

'We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia’s latest invasion into Ukraine,' said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser

Smoke billows from a power and heating plant after it was shelled in Shchastya, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine. Picture: Vadim Ghirda/AP

The White House has begun referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an “invasion” after initially hesitating to use the term – a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the US levying severe sanctions against Moscow.

Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised their independence – but some indicated it was not yet the long-feared fully fledged invasion.