Ukraine-Russia crisis – latest: Putin raises invasion fears with troop deployment as US holds talks in Geneva

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva today with the goal of achieving a "diplomatic off-ramp" to ease tensions, according to State Department officials.

In his opening statement for highly anticipated talks in Geneva with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of state Antony Blinken said Washington does not expect to resolve its differences with Russia over Ukraine at talks in Geneva on Friday.

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that Russia is not “afraid of anyone, even not of the US”.

His response came in response to CBS News’s questions which asked if Russia was intimidated by Ukraine.Mr Ryabkob arrived in Geneva on Friday for a meeting with top US diplomats, including US secretary of state Antony Blinken.

Ahead of the highly anticipated meeting, the Kremlin said Mr Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are meeting to take stock of the talks so far over the Ukraine situation and Russian officials are not expecting the US to hand over the formal reply to Russia’s proposal yet.

Joe Biden has said he thinks Russia will make a move on Ukraine, warning Moscow it would face a “stiff price” for an attack yet suggesting that a “minor incursion” might be treated differently by the US and its allies.

Putting weight behind Ukraine, Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said Europeans have a united stance on the crisis situation in the country as Russia threatens invasion.

Ukraine’s military intelligence on Friday said Moscow has been actively recruiting mercenaries and sending weapons to the restive, separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine.

In a statement, the country’s military intelligence agency said Russia was sending mercenaries for intensive training in the area.

Amid growing fears of Russia invading Ukraine, the US secretary of state and Russian foreign minister are set to hold urgent talks in Geneva on Friday.

Antony Blinken arrived in Geneva for talks with Russian minister Sergei Lavrov after a swing through Europe to shore up support from US allies for possible sanctions in case of a full-scale invasion.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, left, shake hands with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, right, prior to their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday