US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Moldova "deserves the world's gratitude" for welcoming Ukrainians. He also vowed support for the country's sovereignty due to fears that it could be Russia's next target.

China has paid lip service to respecting the "territorial integrity" of Ukraine but has so far refused to call Russia's invasion what it is. Beijing could soon be forced to make an uncomfortable decision.

The head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, has said the crisis in Ukraine could be a "historic turning point" in how European countries source their energy. Speaking to FRANCE 24 on Wednesday, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Birol noted that supplies of Russian gas to Europe had already fallen last year before the recent escalation of tensions. He said it could be an impetus for EU policymakers to turn to alternative sources, as the cost of gas and electricity have soared.

The US is moving to bolster Poland's defense capabilities amid the rising threat of war between neighboring Ukraine and Russia. Defense Secretary Austin said the conflict could lead to a flood of refugees.

Since December, Russia has gradually amassed more than 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine. Amid stalled talks between the US and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron is embarking on a solo mission to Moscow and then Kyiv, insisting a diplomatic solution is still possible. For more on what to expect from this latest diplomatic push, we spoke to Natia Seskuria, Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. "Russia will not stop at Ukraine," she warned.

"Everything is on the table" regarding new EU sanctions on Russia - but "de-escalation through diplomacy" remains the bloc's priority in the Ukraine crisis. So says EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders in an in-depth interview with FRANCE 24's Europe Editor Catherine Nicholson. The former Belgian foreign minister said the European Commission is preparing measures that could include individual sanctions on "people involved in the possible aggression – such as freezing their assets or a travel ban", as well as what he described as "concrete economic sanctions: transfer of technologies from Europe and in co-ordination with the United States; energy; and maybe financial services".