VP Osinbanjo hails troops for safeguarding the country

The Kremlin said a number of soldiers are returning to their permanent bases after finishing military drills. Western countries have accused Russia of amassing around 100,000 troops near Ukraine.

Police in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, say dozens of protesters have been killed in attempts to storm public buildings. After a request for help from Kazakhstan's president, Russia is leading an alliance of ex-Soviet states in sending what they call peacekeeping forces.

Forces sent to help quell an outbreak of violence in Kazakhstan have returned to Russia. A Moscow-led alliance of six former Soviet states were sent after a request from the Kazakh president.

Danish troops are set to leave Mali after the military government made several calls for their "immediate withdrawal." It marks a further deterioration in Mali's relationship with the EU.

Denmark has accused coup generals of playing a dirty political game after the junta withdrew the invitation to deploy Danish troops. Denmark has announced the country would withdraw its newly deployed contingent of 90 troops from Mali after repeated demands by the poor Sahel country's military junta.

The first contingent of 2,000 additional US soldiers has arrived near Frankfurt, with others touching down near Poland's border with Ukraine. The White House says the troops will protect eastern NATO members from potential Russian aggression.

Washington claims Russia is moving forces towards Ukraine while Russia says more of its tanks and jets are leaving the area. Germany's Annalena Baerbock accused Moscow of making Cold War demands. DW has the latest.

President Mohamed Bazoum says Niger will welcome foreign special forces to secure the region. He said threats from the militant groups would likely rise as France pulls its troops out of Mali.

US military personnel have arrived in Romania ahead of a deployment of NATO troops expected in the country. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, borders Ukraine to the north.

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24 and its sister station Radio France Internationale (RFI), Mali's Prime Minister Choguel Maiga says that since 2012, French authorities have tried to divide his country by fueling autonomy claims in the north. And African countries weigh in on Russia's decision to send troops to Ukraine. Kenya, Gabon and Ghana have condemned Moscow's actions at the UN security council. Finally, Madagascar prepares for a new cyclone to hit its coast.

Global stock markets have taken a beating as investors rush for safe havens amid an escalation in geopolitical tensions over Ukraine. Russian stocks and bonds as well as the ruble are among the biggest losers.

Long lines at supermarkets, ongoing curfews, nights spent with strangers in underground train stations — DW's Alexander Savitsky reports on life in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, amid Russia's continuing military strikes.