Australian PM Scott Morrison has been giving his response to the latest developments in Ukraine on an election visit to Tasmania.
He's dismissive of Vladimir Putin's claim that he is sending troops to separatist areas for a peacekeeping mission.
The "suggestion they are peacekeeping is nonsense", he says.
He says he hopes that diplomatic efforts can avoid a violent confrontation and says he will be "in lock-step" with other countries in quickly putting in place sanctions on Russia.
"Russia should step back. It should unconditionally withdraw. It's unacceptable, it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted," he says.
Source:
BBC