The European Union is ready to impose unprecedented economic sanctions against Russia in the event of an "attack on Ukraine", Denmark said, and EU foreign ministers said they would send a joint warning to Moscow, Reuters reported.

"Knowing Russia's tactics, I'm sure one of their aims is to splinter the West," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told reporters that there is no doubt that we are ready to respond with comprehensive, never-before-seen sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine again. He declined to say which sectors would be targeted by the sanctions.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Europe and the US to think carefully when considering sanctions. Asked whether Russia should be cut off from the global SWIFT system, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that the heaviest stick may not always be the best way to deal with such a situation.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said everything was settled, but also pointed to Austria's dependence on Russia for 40% of its gas.

When asked about possible sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, he said that the imposition of sanctions on what is not yet working is not a real threat.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to join the online EU meeting.

So far, the EU has no plans to recall the families of diplomats from Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after Washington announced such a move.

The British Embassy in Ukraine stated that some of the employees are being taken out of Kyiv.