Welcome to the lead-up, Jake Tapper.

We've been watching a briefing with Pentagon press secretary, retired Admiral John Kirby.

And now we continue with our breaking news coverage because the United States is issuing

a new warning to the Ukrainian government that the latest U.S. intelligence points to an

imminent full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, American Ukrainian and other Western officials

confirmed to CNN.

That this warning was presented by the U.S. two Ukrainian leaders in Kiev, although

a senior Ukrainian official noted that the U.S. has issued similar warnings before

for attacks that did not ultimately materialize.

New videos obtained by CNN show a further build-up of Russian tanks and troops along the

country's border with Ukraine.

The Pentagon also saying today that 80 percent of Russian forces are at a forward position

ready to go, adding that Putin has two dozen warships and special forces prepared to

attack and moments ago.

And state media reported that according to the spokesman for the Kremlin, the heads

of the pro-Russian separatist regions in Donetsk and Luhansk have allegedly asked Putin

for, quote, help repelling the aggression of Ukrainian armed forces.

Unquote.

This is exactly what has been expected this whole time.

Let's go straight to CNN's Nick Robertson, Moscow and Nick.

This is a major development, not unexpected, the moment that Putin said that he was recognizing

these two independent states that are in Ukraine.

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