The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had said Ukraine was ready to hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.

“The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian,” he said, asking all those who can defend the country to come to the interior ministry’s assembly facilities.

In a televised address, Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He also said Russia’s attack on Ukraine was after rebels in eastern Ukraine asked the country for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression”.