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The US has delivered a withering rebuke of Russia at a special United Nations Security Council meeting, while threatening that any invasion of Ukraine will be met with "swift and severe consequences".

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, said an "attack on Ukraine was an attack on the sovereignty of every UN member state and the UN charter".

The US and its allies are moving to slap economic sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin recognised two separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and sent in troops, claiming they were there for peacekeeping service.

READ MORE: Putin orders forces to 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine

"Today, President Putin made a series of outrageous false claims about Ukraine, aimed at creating a pretext for war," Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

"He claimed that Ukraine is seeking nuclear weapons from the West. This is not true."

She said it was "nonsense" that Russian troops in the separatist eastern regions of Ukraine were peacekeepers.

"If Russia invades Ukraine even further, we will see a devastating loss of life and unimaginable suffering," Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.

"In essence, Putin wants the world to travel back in time to … when empires ruled the world. But the rest of the world has moved forward.

"It is not 1919, it is 2022."

READ MORE: Morrison calls for Russia to 'step back', as Abbott warns invasion of Poland and Baltic nations

Other members of the UN security council followed the tone of message coming out of Washington, that Russia should back down immediately and avert bloodshed and instability in Europe.

However, it is virtually certain the Security Council will not take any action or issue any statement because Russia has veto power.

Russian diplomat Vasily Nebenzya, who is the current president of the UN Security Council, denied Russia was an aggressor and said a diplomatic solution was still possible.

He also hit out at the US for its "extremely negative role" in "egging on Ukraine" to drift to the West.

The West had also been "unashamedly cramming weapons" into the Ukraine over the past weeks, he claimed, as well as sending in military advisors and instructors to mobilise support.

A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent today, if not already underway, with Mr Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.

A vaguely worded decree signed by Mr Putin did not say if troops were on the move and it cast the order as an effort to "maintain peace."

But it appeared to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe.

Mr Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia.

Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia.

He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia.

Speaking at the UN meeting, Ukrainian diplomat Volodymyr Yelchenko likened Russia to a "virus" and said the members of the security council were "sick".

"That's a matter of fact," he said.

"It's been hit by the virus spread by the Kremlin."

He condemned Russia's sending of troops to Ukraine's east, and urged the UN to do everything it can to stop a Russian invasion.

EXPLAINED: Why Russia-backed rebels are a thorn in Ukraine's side

Mr Putin's directive to send in troops came hours after he recognised the separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history.

The move paved the way to provide them military support, antagonising Western leaders who regard such a move as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by the US and others to respond.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Mr Putin's decision to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent "represents a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements".

The White House issued an executive order to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures — likely sanctions — are expected to be announced in the coming hours.

READ MORE: US claims to have credible information on Russian 'kill list' for Ukraine

Biden-Putin summit doubt

A summit between Mr Biden and Mr Putin is unlikely, a senior administration official said, following intelligence and indications on the ground that Russia is likely to take military action.

On Sunday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden agreed "in principle" to a meeting with Mr Putin as long as Russia does not further invade Ukraine.

But the official said intelligence reports indicated further Russian military action would preclude any leader-to-leader summit.

UK to impose sanctions, EU pledges solidarity

Britain will announce new sanctions on Russia tomorrow, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, following Mr Putin's recognition of separatist regions in Ukraine.

The UK toughened its sanctions regime against Russia on Feb. 10, when the new legislation was laid in Parliament.

European Union leaders have condemned Mr Putin's decision.

"The recognition of the two separatist territories in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the Minsk agreements," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a tweet.

French President Emmanuel Macron has requested "an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council and for the adoption of targeted European sanctions," his spokesman said.

And NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia's move, saying the move "further undermines" Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

READ MORE: Murder charge after circular saw allegedly used to cut off man's legs

With agencies

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The NSW Government has dropped its Fair Work Commission case against the rail workers' union, paving the way for train services to return to normal from as early as tomorrow.

Transport Minister David Elliott confirmed today the government will drop the case and begin working on a new enterprise agreement with the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU).

"Going forward, it is on the advice of senior counsel the government will withdraw the matter currently before the Fair Work Commission," he said.

READ MORE: Putin orders troops to enter Ukraine territories

"I have agreed with the union today that we will start to commence rewriting the enterprise agreement which expired in May last year."

Mr Elliott said he has asked the union to return train services to the COVID-19 timetable which features an "enhanced" weekend timetable from tomorrow.

"Ideally that will return tomorrow, but of course I do understand the union needs to go back to the members and ensure they have the staff able at short notice to return to that timetable as soon as possible," Mr Elliott said.

The RBTU has responded to the government dropping the case, calling it a "dummy spit".

The decision to shut down the network by Transport NSW was reportedly due to "safety concerns", Mr Elliott advised today.

The RBTU has asked the government for the risk assessment used to justify shutting down the network.

"Running a safe rail network is our number one concern, so of course we asked the NSW Government to show us the risk assessment it supposedly used to justify its decision to shut down our trains on Monday," RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens said.

"If there's a safety issue, we need to know about it. We would never do anything that would put the safety of the network at risk.

"The NSW Government's dummy spit might be behind us now, but the reason we're in this situation still remains – the NSW Government is refusing to deliver an enterprise agreement that enshrines basic safety and employment conditions for rail workers and commuters."

READ MORE: Murder charge after circular saw allegedly used to cut off man's legs

Sydney was plunged into chaos yesterday as an eleventh-hour rail shutdown resulted in the cancellation of all train services, increasing demand for buses and resulting in clogged roads.

Trains have today resumed at 25 per cent of services after negotiations resumed between the RTBU and NSW government.

The blame game over the shutdown continued in today's press conference.

Mr Elliott said today he and Premier Dominic Perrottet found out about the decision by Transport for NSW to shut down the network at 4am on Monday.

"They only made the operational call at 12.43am, you can expect I wasn't sitting by my phone at 12.43am," Mr Elliott said.

"They advised the Premier and they believed the welfare and safety of communities was in danger.

"This is an operational matter and these operational decisions, the executive of any government department, would have the right to make a swift call if it's in the interest and safety of commuters and the workforce."

READ MORE: Solar eruption captured in an unprecedented image

Mr Claassens called for the government "to fix the mess" and address workers' concerns.

"The NSW Government should be focused on fixing the mess it's made," he said.

"We need to see workers' concerns addressed and commuters get their trains back on track."

The union is seeking for the government to address wages, safety concerns, and the privatisation of train fleets.

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A man who viciously attacked two pet cats as he walked a dog in Melbourne's north is being searched for by police.

The attacks occurred on Belloza Way in Mernda around 4.50pm on Wednesday, February 16, leaving one cat severely injured.

The first attack was caught on CCTV, with footage released by police showing the man chasing after and kicking a black and white cat.

READ MORE: Victoria's mask rules to ease as work from home advisory ends

The man allegedly then picked up a piece of wood and hit another cat with it, according to police.

The 15-year-old ginger cat was severely injured and has been left with an ongoing leg injury.

Police have released CCTV footage and images of the man as they try to track him down.

He is perceived to be Caucasian in appearance, approximately 185cm tall, with a slim build and dark hair.

He was wearing blue shoes, blue mid-length socks, black shorts, a black t-shirt, black watch, black sunglasses and a grey cap.

Anyone who recognises the man or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.