RUSSIA-UKRAINE LIVE: Ukraine says 2,000 civilians are dead and UN reports 874,000 refugees

Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko today warned Russian forces were ‘getting closer’ to Ukraine’s capital after a rocket strike on a TV tower killed five people.

Fears are growing Russia could intensify bombing on the Ukrainian capital with a 40-mile convoy of tanks and other military vehicles amassed on its outskirts.

Russia has also renewed its assault on Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv in a pounding that lit up the skyline with balls of fire over populated areas.

Both sides have said they are ready to resume talks aimed at stopping the war in eastern Europe, with China appearing to offer to mediate ceasefire negotiations.

Seven days in, roughly 874,000 people have fled Ukraine according to the UN and Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said more than 2,000 civilians have died.

About 80 per cent of Russia’s invasion force are now said to be in Ukraine, with as many as 15,000 troops – an entire Russian army division – bearing down on Kyiv. 

Britain has ruled out Nato policing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, while the Foreign Office is expected to announce further financial sanctions on Moscow banks.

And Joe Biden warned Russia that Vladimir Putin ‘has no idea what’s coming’ as he accused the country of ‘underestimating’ western allies and Ukrainian people.

Here, follow MailOnline’s liveblog for all the updates on the crisis in Ukraine today: