Washington Post: “Analysts looking at Russia’s menacing buildup of troops on Ukraine’s borders have long circled Feb. 20 as a day to watch for potential action. Sunday marks the confluence of several events and milestones that some think could — amid the feverish guessing game surrounding the standoff — hold deeper meaning.”

Wall Street Journal: Russia extends drills in Belarus as violence escalates.

The United Kingdom and the United States could take steps to prevent Russian companies from trading in British pounds and U.S. dollars if Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, the BBC reports.

The Guardian reports that London-listed Russian firms are likely to be on the list of establishments targeted by possible sanctions.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told the Daily Mail that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will not stop at Ukraine,” warning that neighboring countries could be targeted if the international community fails to “stand up” to what she called “Russian aggression.”

Said Truss: “It could be Ukraine next week, but then which country will it be next?”

“President Biden and Vladimir Putin are each trying to shape the narrative of what is happening in Ukraine and get inside the heads of a global audience — and each other — to gain the upper hand in an information war as a possible prelude to a real one,” Axios reports.

“U.S. officials say Putin is stoking disinformation in order to blame Ukraine if Russia invades. The White House is trying to announce Putin’s plays before he runs them — a novel and risky strategy they hope might stave off an invasion, or at least help unify the international community against it.”

“Joe Biden came to Capitol Hill and personally lobbied Democratic senators to vote against Russian sanctions. That’s why we’re facing this invasion. I gotta say… Joe Biden becoming president is the best thing that ever happened, tragically, for Vladimir Putin.”

— Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), quoted by The Hill.

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that President Biden was still willing to talk to President Vladimir Putin of Russia despite the U.S. government’s assessment that Mr. Putin has already decided to invade Ukraine,” the New York Times reports.

Said Blinken: “We believe President Putin has made the decision, but until the tanks are actually rolling, and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward.”

Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for Covid-19, The Guardian reports.

It was confirmed she had been in direct contact with her eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales, the week he had the disease.